Review: Dr. Morse Goes Deep In “Beyond the Four Blocks”
By: Deborah Harris
I read somewhere that for an autobiography or a memoir to be worth reading, the main character has to be one of two things: a well-known person willing to reveal their true selves outside of their fame; or an unknown person who can tell their story in a fresh, captivating, and engaging way. Cernata C. Morse, Ph.D. may not be well-known yet, but her storytelling skills Beyond the Four Blocks: A Memoir, definitely places her in the conversation with up and coming key contributors and influencers of Black Literature. As I read her debut book, I was charmed by the way she addressed her audience. She refers to us as her “Dear Readers.” That term alone speaks to how Morse understands and appreciates those who choose to pick up her book and take a read. Her style of addressing us feels as though we are having an intimate conversation with a good friend.
Throughout the book, Morse masterfully weaves in the history of Old Town Alexandria, VA, and the “Four Blocks” where she grew up. The close-knit families that always looked out for their neighbors and their neighbor’s kids. The grocery store owners who were so familiar with their customer’s choice of foods they could practically fill their shopping list by memory alone. The church community that always looked out for its parishioners. Each of these aspects all relevant players in Morse’s life. Beyond the Four Blocks, of course, is very specific to Morse’s life experiences. Yet, her story felt very familiar to me as an African-American woman. I absolutely felt connected to her journey as she recounted the high and low moments of her life. She bravely touches on the topic of societal expectations of Black women and reveals the often unspoken and uncomfortable truth of what it was really like to grow up as a Woman of Color in the United States during the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Family first, respect for elders, church attendance, and home-made meals were the building blocks of her life. Yet, in many ways, I got the sense that some of the traditions were almost “window dressing” as distinguished families dare not reveal the unvarnished truth of their struggles for fear of what others inside and outside of their community would think of them. From that perspective, Cernata’s story is definitely one of stripping away pretenses and bold truth-telling.
In all of her roles, and with very few thoughts of self-preservation, Morse often takes on the persona of “the fixer” never missing a beat. Through the emotional toll of losing a mother at a young age, being shipped away to live with relatives against her will, surviving an abusive relationship, going through a divorce, and enduring many more of life’s challenges, she very seldom falls down.
However, when Morse does show signs of subtle crumbling, she somehow manages to rise up even stronger. Morse is hauntingly honest as she shares the very deep wounds and feelings of being nothing special in the eyes of those who felt they had a right to judge her. Through every battle, Cernata, which means warrior, seemed to have been provided a shield of protection through which the enemy could not penetrate. Her story is one of triumph over the worst of circumstances not just once but many times over. Morse paints a clear picture of herself as she lays herself bear in the hopes that her memoir will inspire not only her family but all of us. As one of her “Dear Readers,” you will come to know Cernata the daughter, the sister, the professional, the wife, the community organizer, and last but not least, the child of God who never gives up.
In this beautifully written story, Cernata humbly admits she did not overcome the struggles in her life on her own. She pays tribute to those individuals who somehow always seemed to show up at just the right moment to get her back on track when she strayed too far off the path that had been set for her life. Through the enduring love and support of family and friends, and with an ample portion of God’s Grace, Dr. Cernata C. Morse eloquently shares with us her “Dear Readers” the memoir of her life. Through many struggles and hard-fought victories Cernata is on her destined path and now living the life she knew was possible beyond the Four Blocks.
Beyond the Four Blocks by Dr. Cernata C. Morse
2019. Dr. C Speaks, LLC: 224 PAGES; Paperback $19.31
Author of the children’s book series “Amari’s Great Adventures” and U.S. Army veteran, Deborah Delois Harris is one of a growing number of Black authors writing books that are culturally representative of African Americans and their diverse background. An avid reader since childhood, Deborah’s literary goals are to increase the number and quality of books written by and about People of Color, support organizations focused on increasing access to books for underserved communities, and put a spotlight on literary works by known and unknown Authors of Color.
