Book Report On Truevine By Beth Macy

One of the remarkable and notorious things about Truevine, and its best-selling author Beth Macy is the extensive content, and meticulous details. Filled with all types of research and evidence stemming from private interviews, photographs, court- cases, articles, circus banners/ description and so many other sources. All of which contribute to the story’s message by providing proof of its existence and firsthand accounts as to what was experienced during the Jim Crow Era. For example, one of main ways in which Macy collected her information was through interviews. She talked to people of whom could recall events from the times, or had any relations to the Muse Brother. What they heard about them and their life experiences in the south during

In addition, another featured source that Macy includes in Truevine would be the photographs, which most vividly depicted the situation of the boys, and possibly their emotions through body language. Giving the reader the opportunity to see George and Willie, helped in understanding what set them apart from other black people. It illustrates how “exploitable” their looks were, how contrasted their pale skin was to their negroid features. Lastly, the usage of evidence from circuses, whether it be the description of the freaks from the slideshows, or the title on the circus sign, it added to the overall story by demonstrating the deceit and lack of morals. They fed lies to the public and made the Muse Brothers think they were something that they’re not in sake of

In doing so, she was able to infer information about their unknown personal conditions and emotions that was not depicted by their “co-workers” or managers. “His [Willie] fingers are clasped and his mouth agape, as if waiting inspection -or maybe a whack on the head”, states Macy, “Between the tight suits and off-center bowties, ‘they were dressed with some care for the ruse but not really that much attention to detail” (pg.101). With one souvenir post-card, the author was able to interrupt and draw conclusions about how they boys were treated. With the small sizes of the clothes, that they had been supposedly “wearing for a couple of years” (pg.100), you’d think they were poor. But when you put into consideration that these freak shows were to be paid, it leads the conclusion that they accumulated no wealth and that all money was directed to their manager Candy Shelton. So, these boys were being robbed, and mistreated- but this is what should be expected of the treatment of two black boys during this time. Likewise, Macy also gets to get a grasp of the treatment of the boys in another photo from a Barnes stint. In the photograph, it appears that the boys are posed with instruments with straps tethering them to the chair. When the author took a deeper look into the picture, she noticed that those