CAUL BABY

This week, I want to highlight Morgan Jerkins’ remarkable new book CAUL BABY. The story centers on the mysterious Melancon family of Harlem, all of whom are born with an extra layer of skin (caul) that has healing properties. The Melancon women sell pieces of their skin to women who struggle with pregnancy (mostly wealthy white women), but it comes at a price. The youngest, adopted member of the Melancon family longs to break free from their restrictive and abusive lifestyle, and help other Black women rather than their white clientele. The novel is a beautiful, heartbreaking exploration of the commodification and exploitation of Black bodies, and Jerkins weaves the elements of magical realism into an incredibly grounded and emotional narrative. I highly recommend checking it out! 

—Julia Hammer, Creative Executive