Technically, this is not a short story. It is an excerpt from Hurston's Novel "Moses: Man of the Mountain". The novel is Zora Neale Hurston's retelling of the story of Moses. I will say that after reading this excerpt, I want to read the full novel.

This story begins with the last plague that struck Egypt.

Throughout the story, Hurston links the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt to Black people gaining freedom by writing in a southern Black voice. Hurston makes this a Black story just by using dialect. The way she handles how the Israelites would have handled the sudden realization of freedom is perfect. I know these people and I can see them very clearly. The way the Israelites were quick to complain and give up, is right in line with how people react to sudden change. Even when the change is for their benefit.

Hurston is a master of saying so much in so few words. I am looking forward to reading the next short story "The Tablets of the Law" which is also an excerpt from the Novel.

Sept of 2021 was the last episode in this series. Started in May 2020.

Returning to finish/ Three more stories to go.

Go to ifoundthisgreatbook.com/zora for all of the previous discussions of Hurston’s short stories.

Alice Ruth Moore was born in 1875 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Part of the first generation of black people born after the abolishment of slavery. Her mother lived her early life in enslavement. Alice comes from a heritage of Black and Creole.

Alice is a woman more people should research and read. She achieved as a musician, teacher and later writer. Her poems, essays and short stories are part of the building blocks that formed the Harlem Renaissance.

In 1898 Alice eloped with Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Their marriage ended during to the abusive behavior of Paul. In 1902, Alice separated from Paul. Paul died in 1906. Alice latter married poet and civil rights activist Robert J. Nelson. Thus the reason why she is remembered as Alice Dunbar-Nelson.

Alice should be remembered for the works of literature she produced during a time when society and tradition were forces opposing her. Her talent and determination made a way for her to create works that have lasted over 100 years.

In “Summer Session” we have a short story that starts out as a story of two men fighting for the attentions of a woman and has a twist that turns it into a police thriller. All this in 5 pages. The story starts with an argument between Elise and Logan about if she was flirting with a taxi driver who stopped to help Elise navigate the congested streets. There is a tension created by Elise having conflicted feelings about Logan who is a school principal and has the power to affect her teaching career. Then there are new found feelings for the taxi driver who is referred to as “the Taxi Adonis”.

Passion grows, there is a physical confrontation between Logan and “the Taxi Adonis”, a city wide kidnapping alert, and a captivating twist.

This short story will make you want to read more of Alice Dunbar-Nelson’s works. Her ability to tell a captivating story is inspiring.

You can find this story in Paula L. Woods anthology of Black mystery, crime and suspense fiction of the 20th century, “Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes”. This book is a good way to get an overview of the history of Black crime fiction writers by reading short stories and excerpts of their works.

A collection of short stories by Alice Dunbar-Nelson is available in ebook and paper back. You can also find collections of her poetry. She was also an accomplished writer of essays.

https://bookshop.org/a/6792/9781528719995