Future of Memphis

Description

A Black boy is born in the 1850s in Memphis, Tennessee to Free Black parents. We follow him through The Civil War and Reconstruction. The book goes into detail about the political and emotional landscape of the time. His morals, knowledge, and spiritual base are put to the test as a tragedy occurs that alters his course in life. An unusual alliance puts him in various unique adventures with consequences that further shape his life and maturity. The book follows two trajectories. On one hand, it is a coming-of-age fictional adventure story of an exceptional trio of teens as they try to understand what promise a post-Civil War America holds for each of them. Parallel to this storyline is a well-documented history of American political and social upheaval that transpired during that same time.

Growing up in the '60s, I loved to go to the library and dream of new worlds to explore. Back then, you had to locate books thru the card catalog system, which were thousands of index cards in a mammoth set of drawers. The most valued citation I ever received was a certificate from a library stating I was a member of the 'Look it Up Club' during a summer reading program. I was eight years old and was required to locate a series of books using the card catalog. I still have it 60 years later. My least-liked subject in high school was history/social studies. It was just plain bland. I could do the memorization part and made good grades, but the history as it was presented didn't interest me. I wrote this book hoping that the way I present history in this fictional novel will spark an interest in the young reader or parent to learn more about the history and causes of racism in America, while also providing a source of hope that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.