Book Review: "I, Tituba: Black Witch of Salem" a novel by Maryse Condé

A love letter to Tituba, the oft forgotten spark who got the Salem Witch Trials going. If not forgotten, only described as that negro witch. Nothing more, nothing less.

 Condé convenes with historical records as well as the spirit of Tituba to put together this power and tragic narrative of her life. A symptom of  settler colonialism, white supremacy, and anti-blackness is that we do not have the records, tales, diaries of a many of the oppressed. Condé treats Tituba with realness and kindness to show a version of her that could have been real and also extremely empowering to Black people.

This might be triggering to some folks of European descent to read this. The white people are merely depicted accurately based on documentation including their own diaries and letters. These people were racist, disrespectful, miserly, unhygienic, and hypercritical. It’s important to note that while some were not, enough people in power behaving in a destructive manner is why we all continue to suffer today. Face that reality. Accept your disgusting ancestors, seek out the less destructive ones,  and make the effort to be better. One want to be better is by checking this out wink wink.