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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In When Your Hand is in the Lion's Mouth, Nita Whitaker recounts her father Green Whitaker's life and his core values of family, hard work, and faith. Despite the unimaginable pain of his wife's passing, Green remained devoted to his children with total resilience and commitment. Raised on a rural Louisiana farm, he learned self-reliance, generosity, and the importance of education from his parents. Overcoming racial discrimination in various occupations, including farming and fair employment, Green's integrity and work ethic sustained him. Nita fondly recalls her disciplined yet nurturing upbringing, shaped by her parents' emphasis on education. The loss of her mother was bearable during college due to her father's unwavering support, influencing her involvement and success in beauty pageants at the highest possible, elite levels, leaning into the enduring impact of her father's teachings on resilience and perseverance.
When Your Hand is in the Lion's Mouth by Nita Whitaker is a thoughtful family memoir that anchors itself in themes of resilience and family strength, painting a picture of her family’s love and support in both good times and those that are more difficult. I loved her stories on Big Momma’s quilts and the children's nightly routines and was heartened by her determination to persevere after her mother's death. Whitaker includes historical and broader cultural context, shedding light on areas like the African American experience during the mid-20th century, particularly systemic racial inequalities, such as inadequate neonatal care for Black babies in the 1950s. Her memoir also speaks on the importance of education and honoring commitments, as seen when Whitaker’s father insisted she return to college. Whitaker’s style of conversational writing and the inclusion of photography make her work feel personal and relatable, inviting readers to connect deeply with her family's journey and legacy.
