An Angel's View

My Grandmother’S Love, Life, and Legacy: the Memoir of Ellen Cordelia Saunders

Throughout the ages and stages of American history, grandmothers have been the guardians of the generations, the dispensers of wisdom, the instillers of pride and dignity, the conveyors of important religious values, the financial and emotional supporters of the family during times of need, and the promoters of cultural standards and traditions. From Maya Angelou to Martin Luther King Jr. to Oprah Winfrey, the success of many African Americans can be traced back to the love and support of a grandmother. Author Reginald E. Hicks is no exception.

For Hicks, An Angels View began as a labor of love to chronicle the life of his own beloved grandmother, from her birth on the family farm in rural New Kent County, Virginia in 1923; through her personal, social, and political trials and tribulations; to her quickly approaching eighty-ninth birthday. However, his humble commemoration eventually blossomed into an emotional story of love, betrayal, triumph, and tragedy embedded in a riveting and dynamic Southern history. Through this exceptional work, Hicks makes a unique and valuable contribution to his family and to the world of black literature.