The Writings of Barbara Dumas Francis

About the Book

The Writings of Barbara Dumas Francis capture a rich life told in concise but vivid snippets. This crisp volume is remarkable in its breath, encompassing the effects of the Great Migration, separation from mother, the thrill of first flight, family tradition, and the black church. Romantic and sensual, sage and sapient, the narrative is also poetic, particularly in its painting of the rich example of the writer’s loving aunts, as well as the budding promise of her grandchildren. The genius of writing’s simplicity is evident in an instructional narrative about caregiving of a terminally-ill loved one, which is conveyed so deceptively matter of fact that its poignance enthralls the reader unawares. In its highlights, the book offers the reader a capital life tour as this world-wise author learns to reconcile life’s inimitable joys and its inevitable sorrows.

About the Author

Barbara-Jean Covington Dumas Francis was born July 26, 1931, at Harlem Hospital in New York City. She grew up in New York City and spent most of her summers in Rockingham, North Carolina. As a child, Barbara liked to play with dolls, pick fruit off trees, and make mud cakes. It was a childhood filled with imagination, made-up stories, and play. Barbara’s love of reading began at about the age of ten. Her grandmother was very strict, and Barbara found an escape through the landscapes, characters, and adventures in the many stories that she read. One Rockingham summer was to bring into Barbara’s life a handsome next-door neighbor to her grandmother, Datus Dumas. He quickly nicknamed her his summer girlfriend. They eventually married and moved to New York, where they were blessed with three children: Marie Antoinette, Mildred Joyce, and Datus Jr. Despite the demands of her career as union representative, Barbara, who had always been an avid reader, began taking writing classes at the College of New Rochelle. She had always enjoyed writing stories and poetry, and the writing class encouraged this interest and helped Barbara take her writing to the next level. Barbara’s writing has been spirited by her rich family history and the inspiration of her children and grandchildren. Barbara continues to indulge her literary and creative talents. She regularly takes writing classes, creating new short stories and poems. She is an avid reader and member of a book club.