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00:00:00 – 00:17:09
The video follows JoJo's journey surrounding family dynamics, relationships, and past events. It delves into JoJo's experiences on his 13th birthday amidst his grandmother's cancer treatment, his father's release from jail, and interactions with various family members. JoJo goes on a road trip with Misty and Kayla, leading to encounters with convoluted situations involving Pop, meth cooking, and personal revelations. Themes of family, struggles, and healing emerge as the characters navigate through moments of tension, sickness, and past traumas. The narrative shifts perspectives between characters, including JoJo, Richie, and Leoni, as they confront ghostly encounters, violent pasts, and emotional reckonings. The video also introduces the author Jesmyn Ward, highlighting her background, notable works, and accolades, providing context to the themes explored in the video.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the story is told from JoJo’s perspective on his 13th birthday. JoJo’s grandmother is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, leading to family dynamics and conflicts. JoJo’s family life is complex, with issues involving his diverse family members. The narrative includes details about his father’s tattoos, tense family interactions, and JoJo’s experiences surrounding his family’s history and his mother’s past. The segment further explores relationships, past events, the family’s emotional struggles, and the impending release of JoJo’s father from jail.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, Jojo, Misty, and Kayla go on a road trip. Jojo finds a feather and note in his clothes from pop. They stop at Carla’s house with Fred cooking meth. Leone tries to help Kayla with blackberry leaves. Jojo takes care of Kayla when she falls ill. They visit Al Michael’s lawyer. Jojo remembers a part of Pop’s story about Parchman. They finally reach Parchman, where Michael and Leone reunite. Richie suffers from his wounds.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, Michael meets Kayla who is tense, and she throws up as they drive away. JoJo sees a young boy named River, who only he and Richie can see. Chapter 6 is from Richie’s point of view, recounting memories with River and an encounter with a man named Hogjaw in Parchman. In chapter 7, they go back to Al’s house where Kayla is sick, and Leone takes care of her. After an incident with the police, they are let go, with Kayla and Leone feeling the effects of meth. Chapter 8 is from JoJo’s view, mentioning a warning from Richie about being chained by the cops.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, Michael takes money from Leone’s bag to buy charcoal and milk for her because she is sick. JoJo buys a Tootsie Pop as well. Michael gives Leone the mix, making her throw up. Richie confides in JoJo, revealing he needs JoJo’s help to find a way home. They reach Maggie and big Joseph’s house, where tensions escalate, resulting in an altercation between Michael and big Joseph. Leoni receives a message from the Dead, signaling it’s time to join them. Pop advises JoJo to put Kayla to bed, and the next morning, Michael cooks bacon as they reminisce about a previous fishing trip.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, Jojo is asked by Richie to talk to Pop for him. Ma’am reveals to Jojo that Leoni lacks the moing instinct and won’t feed him. Jojo questions Ma’am about death, and she explains the rarity of violent deaths leading to ghosts. Chapter 12 is narrated from Richie’s perspective, where he observes a neighborhood with music. Pop discloses to Jojo the violent fate of Richie’s escape from Parchman. Chapter 13 sees Jojo helping Pop with a termite-infested pen and learning more about Richie’s past. In Chapter 14, Ma’am returns with stones for a ritual and Given appears in the house, leading to Ma’am’s death. Jojo expresses anger towards Leoni for letting Ma’am die.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses a character named Leone who is described as very skinny and seems to struggle with being a mother. JoJo, another character, mentions seeing ghosts only at night, one of which is Richie. The author of the book being discussed, Jesmyn Ward, shares her background, including her studies at Stanford University, the tragic loss of her younger brother, and the impact of Hurricane Katrina on her life and work. Ward is highlighted as a successful writer and professor, with notable works like “Men We Reaped” and “The Fire This Time.” Additionally, she has received prestigious awards such as the National Book Award for Fiction and a MacArthur genius grant.