Bitter Root combines a wonderful collection of stories. Its elements, like gumbo’s, are many but cannot be quantified. When cooked at the correct temperature for the appropriate amount of time it yields magically delicious results.
Like gumbo, the history of America and Blackness are infused in this dish.
Walker, Brown, and Greene have infused Black History into this story that has a similar feel to Ghostbusters and Lovecraft Country. It also feels like the works of Zora Hurston, W.E.B. duBois and so much more.
The Sangerye Family is a family who has dedicated their lives to protect the world against monsters that are born out of racism and hate.
Harlem in 1924 is the setting for the major action that follows the horrific events of “Red Summer”, which saw waves of anti-Black violence in over 30 cities in the USA, as well as the Tulsa Massacre of 1921.
The story explores the unimaginable hatred of the oppressor and the pain and suffering of the oppressed by using the supernatural.
The story is the one that drives the plot, as it’s filtered by the Sangerye’s family drama.
This all seems very serious. In less skilled hands, it could also come off as a lot of homework and not much entertainment. Bitter Root can be heavy at times. The story is filled with action and adventure, including steampunk weapons, battles between monsters, and much more.
You’ll also find some memorable characters, such as Blink, who is the strongest fighter of the family, against the wishes of her parents; Berg, who has a large vocabulary and a powerful physique, while Johnnie Ray, who is white, quickly realizes his mistakes.
Let’s assume you did not study Afro-American Studies in college or that you would like to marinate Bitter Root themes and sources in your head a bit more. Omnibus shines in this area.
This hardcover collection includes issues 1-15, the Red Summer Special and essays by Black scholars and cultural critics who provide more insight into the content and how it is interconnected with Black art and literature.
The story unfolds with a thrilling pace as the Sangerye tragedy and family history is revealed. Other families hunt monsters , which are human beings who have been turned by racism and hate into jinoo . The jinoo is called by many different names in these other families, including those of Indigenous, Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. There are enough stories/families to fill a Bitter Root Universe.
There’s something touching about watching this family work through its past traumas, and reflect on the psychological impact of collective oppression in light of the recent wave of legislation that seeks to erase history.
This hardcover edition of Bitter Root may be the best version yet, but it is still worth buying.
David F. Walker, Chuck Brown
Sanford Greene, Artwork and Cover