Not Without Laughter

Not Without Laughter (1930) is based on the authors own childhood and early manhood memories. This moving coming-of-age story takes place in rural Kansas in the 1930s. It chronicles the narrative of little Sandy Rogers as he grows from a boy to a man and it is a moving depiction of African-American family life in the early twentieth century. Sandys mother Annjee works as a housekeeper for an affluent white family; his strong-willed grandmother Hager; Sandys father Jimboy who traverses the country looking for work; Aunt Tempy the social climber; and Aunt Harriet the blues singer who has abandoned her faith are all introduced. Not Without Laughter a vivid examination of growing up and getting strong is a fascinating account of a familys joys and sorrows.