Citizens creek by lalita tademy5/28/2023 There’s only spare protection at Fort Gibson-"Surrounded by sickness and starvation and suffering." Recognizing "he world was a harsh place, guaranteed of quicksilver change and backhand slaps," Cow Tom builds a new homestead and prospers, taking a role as chief among African Creeks. Prospering until the Civil War, the family is driven from their land by Confederate Lower Creeks. Tademy’s research lends veracity to the tale, which later shifts to the perspective of Rose, Cow Tom’s granddaughter. Cow Tom's hard bargaining earns the family's freedom, but it's a long, hard struggle with prejudice before those with African-American blood are allowed into tribal roles. War over, Cow Tom, his wife, Amy, and daughters Malinda and Maggie are caught up in a desperate river journey to Fort Gibson in eastern Oklahoma. Thomas Jesup as a "linguister" to fight the Second Seminole War. As the Remove begins-Southern tribes being exiled to Indian Territory-Yargee rents Cow Tom to Gen. The young slave Tom is yatika-interpreter-for Alabama Creek chief Yargee, but he’s called Cow Tom for his gift of understanding, hilis haya, of cattle. In her third novel, Tademy ( Red River, 2007, etc.) draws a tale of courage and family loyalty from a dark corner of American history.
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