Catalog

Record Details

Catalog Search


People of means : a novel Cover Image Book Book

People of means : a novel / Nancy Johnson.

Johnson, Nancy (Novelist), (author.).

Summary:

Two women. Two pivotal moments. One dream for justice and equality. In the fall of 1959, Freda Gilroy arrives on the campus of Fisk University full of hope, carrying a suitcase and the voice of her father telling her she's part of a family legacy of greatness. Soon, the ugliness of the Jim Crow South intrudes, and she's thrust into a movement for social change. Freda is reluctant to get involved, torn between a soon-to-be doctor her parents approve of and an audacious young man willing to risk it all in the name of justice. Freda finds herself caught between two worlds, and two loves, and must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice for the advancement of her people. In 1992 Chicago, Freda's daughter Tulip is an ambitious PR professional on track for an exciting career, if workplace politics and racial microaggressions don't get in her way. But with the ruling in the Rodney King trial weighing heavily on her, Tulip feels called to action. When she makes an irreversible professional misstep as she seeks to uplift her community, she must decide, just like her mother had three decades prior, what she's willing to risk in the name of justice and equality. Insightful, evocative, and richly imagined with stories of hidden history, People of Means is an emotional tour de force that offers a glimpse into the quest for racial equality, the pursuit of personal and communal success, and the power of love and family ties.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780063157514 (hardcover)
  • Physical Description: 357 pages ; 24 cm
  • Edition: First edition.
  • Publisher: New York : William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2025]

Search for related items by subject

Subject: African American women > Fiction.
Man-woman relationships > Fiction.
Mothers and daughters > Fiction.
Race relations > Fiction.
Racism > Fiction.
Social justice > Fiction.
Genre: Social problem fiction.
Novels.

Available copies

  • 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Innisfil Public Library System. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Lakeshore Branch.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Lakeshore Branch FIC Johns 31681010406577 FICTION Available -
► Summaries & More
► Awards, Reviews, & Suggested Reads
▼ Additional Content
  • Baker & Taylor
    From the acclaimed author of The Kindest Lie, a propulsive novel about a mother and daughter, Freda and Tulip, each seeking justice and following their dreams during moments of social reckoning—1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago.
  • Baker & Taylor
    From the acclaimed author of The Kindest Lie, a propulsive novel about a mother and daughter, Freda and Tulip, each seeking justice and following their dreams during moments of social reckoning-1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago.
  • HARPERCOLL

    One of People magazine's most anticipated books!

    “A powerful, thought-provoking saga.” —Woman’s World

    "An evocative story of love and sacrifice.”—People

    From the acclaimed author of The Kindest Lie, a heartrending novel about a mother and daughter each seeking justice and following their dreams in 1960s Nashville and 1990s Chicago.

    Two women. Two pivotal moments. One dream for justice and equality.

    In the fall of 1959, Freda Gilroy arrives on the campus of Fisk University full of hope, carrying a suitcase and the voice of her father telling her she’s part of a family legacy of Black excellence. Soon, the ugliness of the Jim Crow South intrudes, and Freda, reluctant to get involved, is torn between a soon-to-be doctor and an audacious young activist. Freda must decide how much she’s willing to risk in the name of justice.

    In 1992 Chicago, Freda’s daughter, Tulip, is an ambitious PR professional on track for an exciting career, if workplace politics and racial microaggressions don’t get in her way. But with the ruling in the Rodney King trial weighing heavily on her, Tulip feels called to action and must choose, just like her mother had three decades prior, what her role will be in the story of America’s quest for equality.

    Insightful, evocative, and richly imagined with historical details, People of Means is an emotional tour de force about the lasting legacy of family bonds and the far-reaching ways the past shapes our present.

    "People of Means left me breathless! A beautifully crafted story...profound and sharp."—Sadeqa Johnson New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve

► Shelf Browser
► MARC Record

Additional Resources