THE DAVENPORTS

Joniece Abbott-Pratt narrates the alternating perspectives of four young, Black women who seek romance and a sense of themselves in 1910 Chicago. Abbott-Pratt portrays the propriety of Olivia, the eldest daughter of a wealthy family, and her shift to discomfort when she meets a fiery Alabama lawyer who speaks out against Jim Crow. Abbott-Pratt presents a different picture of Helen, Olivia's younger sister, who finds more pleasure in tinkering with automobiles than in maintaining her social standing. Again, Abbott-Pratt reflects the character's growth when her playful spirit is admired by an eligible British bachelor. Two other points of view allow listeners additional scenes of class differences, gender constraints, societal expectations, racism, and the quest for personal happiness. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]