For this month’s book club pick, we are headed into 1970’s Montgomery, Alabama. Based on a true story, Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is an unflinching exploration of accountability and redemption through an era that was plagued with bias and coercion. The central character, Civil Townsend, is a complicated heroine fresh out of nursing school with a deep desire to make a difference in her Black community at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic. During her first week on the job, Civil encounters two young girls who have their agency usurped by the current government authority which mandates that because they Black, poor, and disabled, the girls’ ability to have children should be curbed. Years later, Civil Townsend must reconcile her role and complicity in a story that must not be forgotten.What unfolds is a shocking and heartbreaking expose of how girls and women have had their agency taken away in ways that echo for generations. 

Inspired by true events, Dolen recounts her research process and how she wanted to write “bruised characters” that evoke outrage and empathy. Jen and Dolen dive into Dolen’s history as a writer, the context of what was happening in 1973 when the case that this story is based broke into the public sphere, and all the themes of this book that make it impossible to put down. This is a story that must not be forgotten and Dolen writes it so you won’t ever forget.   

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Guest’s Links:

Dolen’s Website

Dolen’s Facebook

Dolen’s Twitter

Dolen’s Instagram

Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Balm by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Relp v. Weinberger Case

Roe v. Wade Case

Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan

Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Connect with Jen!

Jen’s website - http://jenhatmaker.com/ 

Jen’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker

Jen’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ 

Jen’s Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker

Jen’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker?sub_confirmation=1

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