Jumia Books All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles

All That She Carried by Tiya Miles is a deeply moving and meticulously researched account of African American history, told through the lens of one humble yet profound object: a cotton sack passed down through generations of Black women. This sack, given by an enslaved mother named Rose to her daughter Ashley before a forced separation, becomes a vessel of memory, survival, and love.

Miles, a Harvard historian and National Book Award winner, traces the journey of Ashley’s sack from the 19th century to its rediscovery in the 21st. Through archival research, oral histories, and cultural analysis, she reconstructs the lives of Rose, Ashley, and their descendants, illuminating the broader story of Black women’s endurance in the face of slavery, systemic oppression, and historical erasure.

Key themes include:

The emotional and symbolic power of everyday objects

The legacy of maternal love and generational trauma

The role of Black women as keepers of memory and culture

The intersection of race, gender, and historical storytelling

The importance of preserving and honoring marginalized histories

Miles’s writing is both scholarly and poetic, weaving together fact and feeling to honor the lives behind the artifact. She challenges readers to rethink how history is told—centering voices that have long been silenced and elevating the significance of personal keepsakes as historical texts.

All That She Carried is ideal for readers of history, African American studies, women’s studies, and anyone drawn to stories of resilience and remembrance. It’s a testament to the enduring power of love and the quiet heroism of those who carried it forward.