Dear Readers,
This is a story about history and what it means to us. Unfortunately, much of Black history has been systematically erased in this country--we see it in action, even today.
Historians have a term for the violence of that act of erasure: they call it "symbolic annihilation" And it does feel violent and painful to see plantations, sites of enormous suffering, turned into wedding and prom venues and bed and breakfasts.
As Harriet works to cancel the plantation wedding (and prom!) next door, however, she's also got to learn to take care of herself--to survive the hard work she plans to do all her life. So this book, as much as it's about history, is also about activism, and how we can each keep our inner fires alive. As a friendship blooms between Harriet and the girl next door, it's also about how we build bridges, becoming allies in each other's causes.
It's about how we can start to change the world by simply listening to each other.
Sincerely,
Kelly McWilliams