Ebony Bolding

Part of the Neighborhood Story Project, Before and After North Dorgenois is the personal narrative of Ebony Bolding and her family. It is broken into four sections; Parts I, II, III, and IV. In Part I, Ebony writes about her early childhood and experiences growing up around the Sixth Ward of New Orleans. Supplementary family photos and her interviews with members of the family and neighbors allow further insight into their shared past and the surrounding neighborhood, providing a better gained understanding of past and present day New Orleans within the New Orleans Sixth Ward for the reader.

Part II describes her experiences at Clark High School and later John McDonough Senior High School. She describes when one of the classmates at John McDonough Senior High was killed, and how she was misquoted when an undercover reporter asked her questions. In Part III she tells of the houses that make up the neighborhood, in their various states of repair and decay. She interviews many of her neighbors to get their sentiments on the neighborhood and how it has changed over the years. In the last section, Part IV, Ebony tells of the move that would bring the family to D-Block, otherwise known as Dumaine Street and Dorgenois. Now, she no longer lives in a house, but in a six-unit apartment. Most of the neighbors rent as opposed to owning their homes. On the whole, Ebony is happy enough with her new home and explains how her neighbors are for the most part very amiable and pleasant.

While best suited for middle school and high school aged students, Before and After North Dorgenois proves an entertaining read at all age levels. The Neighborhood Story Project is an endeavor to be commended, and I look forward to reading the other books as well.… (altro)