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The Secret of Magic

February 10, 2014 by NancyT

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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The Help (linked to Jennifer’s review on 5 Minutes for Books) brought to light issues of class and race in Mississippi during the time of Jim Crow.  Segregation was a very real part of recent history in the South, and as someone born and raised in the North, it still shocks me how black Americans were treated not so long ago.  The Secret of Magic brings together the idealism of blacks in the North with Southern traditions and segregation.

Joe Howard Wilson has just returned from fighting in Italy, a decorated soldier who lost his best friend in World War II. The bus he is riding to his home in Revere, Mississippi is boarded by a man who demands that the blacks give up their seats for German POWs.  Furious at this treatment at the behest of the enemy, Joe Howard refuses to leave the bus, and ends up dead for his troubles.

Regina Robichard is a young black lawyer working her dream job for Thurgood Marshall at the Negro Defense Fund in New York City. She intercepts a letter meant for Marshall, written by one M.P. Calhoun, requesting an investigation into Joe Howard’s death on behalf of Joe Howard’s father, Willie Willie. Ms. Calhoun is the famous reclusive author of a children’s book, also called The Secret of Magic, a book that Regina loved as a child, so Regina convinces Marshall to let her spend two weeks in Revere to see if she can bring justice to Joe Howard’s family.

Regina is not surprised that she has to move to the rear of the train or use separate restrooms, but she does not expect the separation between whites and blacks to be as large as it is.  She’s also surprised that most of the residents of Revere not only know what happened to Joe Howard, they accept it as part of the way of life.  Regina’s attempts to obtain information are blocked from many directions but she doesn’t give up.  The racism she encounters also dredge up issues from her own past, but the strong values instilled by her mother enable her to work through her own personal issues while continuing to seek justice for Joe Howard.

The Secret of Magic novel is a stark reminder of how far we’ve come, yet we still have a lot of ground to cover before race relations are no longer an issue.  

This novel is a good tie-in to Black History Month and an important read for everyone.

Win it!

Enter to win the giveaway below by following the instructions in the widget below, starting off by leaving a comment telling me your most memorable book or movie experience in regards to Black History.

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61 Comments

  1. Ronda says

    February 22, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    The Help, very good.

    Reply
  2. Jenny says

    February 22, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    Reply
  3. Nancy says

    February 22, 2014 at 1:53 pm

    I entered the Pioneer Girl book giveaway.

    Reply
  4. jeremy mclaughlin says

    February 22, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    My wife liked The Help

    Reply
  5. Lt says

    February 22, 2014 at 11:46 am

    The Widow From The South.

    Reply
  6. Ashley Fryer says

    February 22, 2014 at 10:31 am

    A Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

    Reply
  7. Diana Hatch says

    February 22, 2014 at 9:45 am

    I also like The Help

    Reply
  8. Annmarie W. says

    February 22, 2014 at 9:36 am

    I entered your Hungry Caterpillar giveaway!

    Reply
  9. Annmarie W. says

    February 22, 2014 at 9:29 am

    I still haven’t read or seen the Help, but I hear it’s great. I really liked Driving Miss Daisy…would that count?

    Reply
  10. Tammy H says

    February 22, 2014 at 8:47 am

    I would say The Help

    Reply
  11. Pamela j says

    February 22, 2014 at 8:42 am

    i entered the hungry, hungry catapiller book giveaway.

    Reply
  12. Pamela j says

    February 22, 2014 at 8:41 am

    To kill a mockingbird.

    Reply
  13. Danielle Jones says

    February 22, 2014 at 8:40 am

    The Help is the most recent movie dealing with race relations that I have watched.

    Reply
  14. Nannypanpan says

    February 21, 2014 at 9:42 pm

    Entered on grace

    Reply
  15. Teresa Thompson says

    February 21, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    The Help was amazing.

    Reply
  16. Rachel Cartwright says

    February 20, 2014 at 4:19 pm

    The Help was really fantastic.

    Reply
  17. liz l says

    February 19, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    To kill a mockingbird

    Reply
  18. Gayle S says

    February 19, 2014 at 9:37 pm

    A movie that was so powerful it will forever be one I think about in regards to race relations is Roots. I loved it!

    Reply
  19. Caralyn Rubli says

    February 19, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    John Waters’ Hairspray!

    Reply
  20. Corey Olomon says

    February 19, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Ghosts of Mississippi

    Reply
  21. Kim Tanti says

    February 19, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    Roots. WOW every one should watch that one.

    Reply
  22. MCGmandy says

    February 19, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Secret Life of Bees

    Reply
  23. JENNIFER HART says

    February 19, 2014 at 9:39 am

    The novel “Power of One”

    Reply
  24. Darlene Schuller says

    February 19, 2014 at 8:32 am

    The Green Mile

    Reply
  25. brittany laws says

    February 18, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    the blind side!

    Reply
  26. Karla T says

    February 18, 2014 at 9:16 am

    The Help was a great book

    Reply
  27. ASHLEY COSSETTE says

    February 17, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    i asboolutely loved the blind side!

    Reply
  28. Jenny Q. says

    February 17, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    The Color Purple

    Reply
  29. Dawn Monroe says

    February 17, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    My pick would be Glory but Sounder is a great eye opener also.

    Reply
  30. Dana says

    February 16, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    the miniseries Roots

    Reply
  31. vickie couturier says

    February 16, 2014 at 5:35 pm

    to kill a mockingbird

    Reply
  32. Zoe says

    February 16, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    The movie Guess Who’s COming to Dinner is a movie I will never forget!

    Reply
  33. maggie says

    February 16, 2014 at 10:21 am

    I believe the butler

    Reply
  34. Christine says

    February 16, 2014 at 9:38 am

    The Help and the color purple

    Reply
  35. Janice Cooper says

    February 16, 2014 at 9:01 am

    I would say Color Purple and Hotel Rwanda

    Reply
  36. DEBIJOT says

    February 15, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    I think for me it was Lillies of the Field with Sidney Poiter.

    Reply
  37. danielle says

    February 15, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    The help was a great movie!

    Reply
  38. nannypanpan says

    February 15, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    mandela
    [email protected]

    Reply
  39. Debbie Welchert says

    February 15, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    I’d have to say the movie The Color Purple.

    Reply
  40. Trish F says

    February 14, 2014 at 11:49 pm

    The mini series Roots was well done and definitely a subject of race.

    Reply
  41. Susan P. says

    February 13, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    The Help and To Kill a Mockingbird

    Reply
  42. Jodi says

    February 13, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    The Help! The movie was good, but the book is way better!

    Reply
  43. Bonnie Way says

    February 13, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    I LOVED The Help (we saw the movie). It was soooo good! Another book I’ve enjoyed is Passing By Samaria which talks about the race riots in Chicago. And All the Way Home talks about the internment of Japanese citizens in America during WW2 – another good read. 🙂

    Reply
  44. Kristina says

    February 13, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    One movie that was eye opening was The Help!

    Reply
  45. letessha says

    February 13, 2014 at 10:51 am

    Glory is the movie I can remember regarding race relations.

    Reply
  46. Linda Kish says

    February 12, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    The Help. But, I think I learned more by living during that time.

    Reply
  47. Tara says

    February 12, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    Reply
  48. Marya says

    February 12, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

    Reply
  49. Shannon G says

    February 12, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    I would say Lean on Me with Morgan Freeman.

    Reply
  50. LindaStewart says

    February 12, 2014 at 9:37 am

    The Help or maybe The Color Purple

    Reply
  51. Randalyn says

    February 12, 2014 at 8:07 am

    The help. Definitely an eye opener.

    Reply
  52. Jeanna says

    February 11, 2014 at 10:07 am

    I really enjoyed The Help. My son’s class has been reading Addie The American Girl & he is really enjoying that book.

    Reply
  53. Nancy says

    February 11, 2014 at 9:50 am

    I’d say the book The Help.

    Reply
  54. Heather B says

    February 11, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Definitely The Help

    Reply
  55. Daniel M says

    February 10, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    recently watched the butler

    Reply
  56. Marti Tabora says

    February 10, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    I think that would have to be The Help, it was really a great read. Thank you.

    Reply
  57. anne says

    February 10, 2014 at 1:15 pm

    The Widow From The South.

    Reply
  58. Katherine I. says

    February 10, 2014 at 12:55 pm

    IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger.

    Reply
  59. rhonda says

    February 10, 2014 at 11:13 am

    The Help an eye opener!

    Reply
  60. Deedee says

    February 10, 2014 at 10:21 am

    The Help – and The Butler. Both were eye opening for me!

    Reply
  61. Karen Lynch says

    February 10, 2014 at 9:56 am

    The Round House by Louise Erdrich

    Reply

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