Summary in Seconds: I came to Chasing Me to My Grave by chance, after a quiet moment watching Antiques Roadshow revealed the harrowing story behind one of Winfred Rembert’s paintings. That brief television segment led me to a memoir that blends personal history with striking leather artwork to tell the story of a Black artist who survived the brutality of the Jim Crow South. Co-written with philosopher Erin I. Kelly [2], the book is both a deeply personal life story and a powerful record of racial injustice and resilience in mid-20th-century America—an achievement recognized with the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography.
How I discovered this book
I came across this book by chance during an ordinary moment. While cooking or taking short breaks, I often leave the television on quietly in the background. One day, it happened to be PBS’s Antiques Roadshow [1].
An African American woman brought in a painting that caught my attention, prompting me to turn up the volume. The appraiser began explaining the story behind the work and spoke with clear familiarity about the artist’s life. He described how the artist had narrowly escaped being lynched [2] by a group of white Southerners during the civil rights era [3] of the 1960s.
As the story concluded, both the appraiser and the painting’s owner became visibly moved. Near the end, the appraiser mentioned that the artist later co-authored a book with a noted philosopher—a book that would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize [4]. That brief segment is what led me to the book reviewed here.
1. Bibliographical Information
- Book Title: Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South
- Authors: Winfred Rembert and Erin I. Kelly
- Place of Publication: New York, USA (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
- Date of Publication: September 7, 2021 (hardcover first edition)
- Languages Translated To: Primarily published in English; current information does not list widely available translations into other languages (translations may exist but are not prominently cataloged).
- Number of Pages: 304 pages in the first edition (hardcover)
2. Introduction (High School Level)
Chasing Me to My Grave is a powerful memoir by Winfred Rembert [5], created in collaboration with philosopher and writer Erin I. Kelly [6]. Rembert (1945–2021) was a Black artist born and raised in rural Georgia who endured the brutality of Jim Crow–era racism [7], nearly being lynched, and years of forced labor on chain gangs before becoming a celebrated artist whose leather paintings [8] vividly depicted his life experiences.
The memoir blends Rembert’s spoken memories with his striking leather artwork to show what life was like for African Americans under segregation. It covers his early years working in cotton fields, his involvement in the civil rights movement, the violence he faced, and how art helped him heal and tell his story.
The purpose of the book is to share one man’s personal journey through hardship, survival, and creative expression, offering readers both a historical account and a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It speaks especially to audiences interested in history, art, social justice, and the Black American experience. Critics and readers alike have praised the book for its honest storytelling and emotional depth, calling it both heartbreaking and inspiring. This memoir won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, signaling widespread recognition and acclaim.
3. Background and Context
Type of Work
- Chasing Me to My Grave is a memoir and visual autobiography, combining prose with illustrations of Rembert’s art to tell his life story.
Setting
- The memoir is primarily set in the rural South of the United States, especially Cuthbert, Georgia [9], where Rembert grew up and experienced racial oppression firsthand.
Time Period
- The events take place across multiple decades, focusing especially on the 1950s and 1960s during Jim Crow segregation and the civil rights movement, and extending into later years as Rembert reflects on his life through art.
The book is judged not only as a personal narrative but also as a historical document that reveals the realities of racial injustice and resilience in mid-20th-century America.
With the book’s context, origins, and historical setting now in view, we can turn from the facts surrounding Chasing Me to My Grave to the experience of reading it. Part Two moves beyond background into the heart of the memoir itself, offering a concise summary of its narrative, an evaluation of its strengths and impact, and a concluding reflection on why Winfred Rembert’s story continues to matter.
Notes
1. Antiques Roadshow
A long-running television program on PBS where experts appraise antiques and collectibles brought in by the public. It often uncovers historically significant objects and personal stories behind them.
2. Lynching
A form of extrajudicial killing carried out by mobs, often used to terrorize African Americans in the United States. It was especially widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a tool of racial control and intimidation.
3. Civil Rights Movement
A social and political movement during the 1950s–1960s aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. It led to landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.
4. Pulitzer Prize
A prestigious annual award in the United States recognizing excellence in journalism, literature, and music composition. It is administered by Columbia University and is considered one of the highest honors in these fields.
5. Winfred Rembert
An African American artist known for his detailed leather paintings that depict scenes from his life in the segregated South. His work often reflects his experiences with racism, imprisonment, and survival during the Jim Crow era.
6. Erin I. Kelly
A philosopher and academic known for her work on ethics, justice, and social philosophy. She collaborated on preserving and presenting Winfred Rembert’s life story and artistic legacy.
7. Jim Crow laws (Jim Crow–era racism)
A system of laws and social practices enforcing racial segregation in the American South from the late 19th century until the 1960s. This era institutionalized discrimination and inequality against African Americans in nearly every aspect of life.
8. Leather painting
An artistic technique in which images are carved, tooled, and painted onto leather surfaces. In the case of Winfred Rembert, it was used to vividly narrate personal and historical experiences.
9. Cuthbert
A small city in southwest Georgia, United States. It is historically significant as the hometown of Winfred Rembert and a setting that reflects the realities of Jim Crow–era life in the rural South.
Source
Rebert, Winfred; Kelly, Kelly I.; and Stevenson, Bryan. “Chasing me to the Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South.” Bloomsbury Publishing, September 07, 2021.