The Metro: ‘Divining Freedom’ represents Detroit not only as a city, but as an idea
“Diving Freedom” is a story that follows Detroit families through the ages, during emancipation, the Detroit rebellion and the modern day. Author Donna Givens-Davidson joins the show to speak more to Black history in Detroit and the story she wants to tell.
“Divining Freedom,” the debut novel of Donna Givens-Davidson, follows Black Detroit families across five generations.
The story spans more than a hundred years, following multiple families’ hopeful journey to success and prosperity. The fictional narrative covers characters during the emancipation, the Detroit rebellion, and the modern day.
Givens-Davidson talks about a reality Black people were seeking that they couldn’t yet understand throughout the book. “We’ve been in this quest to be free without really knowing what freedom looks like. Even within freedom, you have hierarchy.”
Givens-Davidson served as a community builder for 40 years before embracing her role as a historian and organizer. She also hosts Authentically Detroit, a podcast that stems from her presidency at the Eastside Community Network.
She loves Detroit and she wants the book to reflect that love. “I want people who are Black to look at this and love themselves,” Givens-Davidson said.
She joins The Metro to foreshadow what these chapters are all about and how the content stands as a testament to ancestors from the city.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
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