Debra L Dirks

Race Relations Debra L Dirks

Katie Lynn had nothing to gain and everything to lose by sharing her ancestors' secrets with her family. With eyes fading in their vibrancy at ninety-two years young, she faced all her inner doubts, threw caution to the wind, and did what she believed to be right. This decision had consequences that she never could have anticipated, taking her and her great granddaughters on an adventure that not only crossed the decades, but the centuries. They touch fingers with the distant past, discovering personal ties and relevancy in the experiences of their elder generations. History's broad brush paints on a landscape depicted through the characters' slightly myopic lens as they uncover their ancestors' actions. As they expand their vision to a more panoramic view they must acknowledge and confront today's prejudices and bigotry within their own family and the world beyond. They discover their lineage includes members who brushed elbows with historical figures and events like the Slave Prince, the murder of Medgar Evers, the Freedom Riders, Freedom Summer, the Montgomery bus boycott, Clyde Kennard, run-away slaves, the KKK, and so much more. This novel confronts America's past and present morality through exploring the many stages of bigotry and prejudice, of violence and pacifism, of religious, racial, and family conflict not only in the distant past but in today's global society. It shines a light on the moral character of Americans from the days of slavery to the present day. It exposes our societal issues, ideas, and ideals, displaying both the best and the worst in our citizens, revealing their foibles, yet allowing them to change. Furthermore, this novel factually portrays known figures in history and their interaction with realistic characters at the actual events of our known history, naturally replicating the sentiment and sensations of yesteryear. Today, many Americans live with the illusion that prejudice belongs to the considerations of the past. Has it really disappeared or is it just hidden, redirected, and ignored?