For many years, Chicagoans followed Dawn Turner’s perspectives on city life. She shared her insights with clarity and an open mind. Her role as a reporter and columnist at the Chicago Tribune spanned over two decades. Turner’s writing on race, class, and gender came from her roots in Chicago’s South Side. This viewpoint shaped her inquiries into societal norms and actions and is a constant theme in her books.
Turner’s first novel, “Only Twice I’ve Wished for Heaven,” takes readers to the South Side of Chicago in the 1970s. She wrote the book on a Zenith laptop, commuting from the suburbs to the Tribune Tower. Her second novel, “An Eighth of August,” focuses on an Illinois town that observes the emancipation of enslaved Americans in Tennessee, an event with widespread regional significance. Her memoir, “Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Story of Race, Fate and Sisterhood,” evolved over a decade. It reflects second chances, and who gets them, through her life in a historic Chicago area with her sister and friend.
“Majestic Hills”, Turner’s latest novel, explores a young Chicago couple’s move to the suburbs. Set against the backdrop of their quest for home ownership and freedom, the narrative taps into Turner’s 1989 personal experience of leaving an urban lifestyle for a suburban one. She remembers the warmth and respect of her new neighbors, contrasting it with the current atmosphere of “bullying and intolerance.” Turner notes the shift in societal direction, highlighting the importance of reflecting on this change through her writing.
“This country has never been perfect,” Turner said. “But there’s a difference between moving towards ideals or going in the opposite direction.”
Themes in “Majestic Hills” include race, class, love, marriage, and the quiet compromises of relationships. Turner looks at mobility and belonging within the American Dream, analyzing immigration, migration, and community integration.
Turner says her perspective has shifted under recent political climates. While she once felt boundless freedom, she now evaluates movements with more caution. Yet, she refuses to let current boundaries limit her. According to her, racism has persisted even as the belief in potential diminished under divisive leadership.
“There will always be those who hate,” she said. “But our notepad is our shield, our pen is our sword. This is how we fight. We tell our stories.”
Turner’s storytelling addresses conflicted emotions around American holidays for Black Americans. In “Majestic Hills,” scenes reveal how perceptions change when characters encounter people dressed in white. The imagery suggests white supremacy, but they are beekeepers. She reflects on constant vigilance, haunted by both past and present.
Turner details a moment when she faced a health scare, and her neighbors offered their support. This experience, she highlights, might not be possible today. Her novel’s couple faces both friendly and challenging neighbors in suburbia.
“There are more things connecting us than dividing us,” she asserts, emphasizing connections sought within her narrative. Early allies in the book remain supportive, encouraging community beyond surface-level interactions.
“The more things change, the more we have to be change agents. The world changes rapidly, but ensuring people aren’t left behind is crucial,” Turner concluded.
“Majestic Hills” will be discussed by Dawn Turner in conversation at the Women & Children First Bookstore. Further details are available through their contact, 773-769-9299, or on their website.