| The story of black and white in America runs deep | | | | of character, the will to overcome these enormous |
| through our conscience. Each of us has both an | | | | obstacles prevails and succeeds. |
| experience and opinion on the subject. Whether it | | | | To understand how difficult living in a racist world |
| recalls a black man, a black woman or child it doesn't | | | | where you clearly don't belong, yet trying to blend in to |
| rise to the level necessary to be considered "text" | | | | survive, one needs to be able to walk in those |
| worthy of African American History. | | | | footsteps. But for us to do so cannot be accomplished |
| This book biography represents the history of just one | | | | voluntarily. To find the true knowledge of emotional |
| unusual drama that had its beginnings wrapped in | | | | & physical reliance requires either slavery or |
| bigotry customary to the times. If there is one | | | | kidnapping, two serious felonies universally frowned |
| inspirational story to open our minds and hearts to our | | | | upon. |
| commonality rather than our differences, this mystery | | | | Our story begins with the dubious behavior from those |
| book can be considered at the top. | | | | responsible who initiated and controlled the events. The |
| The inexperience of youth, who often sees life through | | | | actions of Fauna's grandfather who was accused and |
| ideals, rarely has the opportunity to deliberately | | | | acquitted of incestuous relations with his daughter |
| manipulate social justice and force their romanticized | | | | Tamar, and Tamar who insisted but did not name the |
| values onto others. Even with the best of intentions it | | | | father as "Negro", and the grandmother unmoved in |
| can create havoc for those least prepared to deal | | | | her resolve to eliminate this tragedy from the family, |
| with the resulting catastrophe. But this is exactly what | | | | become only passing consequences. But for a child, to |
| happened in the early 1950's. | | | | begin life buried in a haystack, it's a lifetime of |
| Fauna Hodel, the Caucasian progeny of a prominently | | | | absurdities. |
| social California family, was given away at birth to a | | | | This story allows us to flow into the life of a young |
| Black maid, Jimmie Lee, who worked as a restroom | | | | woman as she searches for the truth. We can feel |
| attendant in a Nevada casino. The purpose was to | | | | what it's like to not know where she came from, nor |
| make sure that a black family raise her baby. In her 16 | | | | why she is there in the first place. Her only hope is a |
| year old mother's naive eyes, Blacks were the only | | | | few words remixed a dozen different ways, but never |
| people capable of unconditional love. To insure that the | | | | enough to piece together an answer. |
| child would never return to her emotionally reclusive | | | | With a very young Tamar leaving unanswered |
| white family, she provided the race of the father as | | | | questions for Fauna, and Jimmie Lee not answering |
| "Negro" on the birth certificate. The child grew up | | | | those questions for fear of losing her daughter, neither |
| believing that she was of mixed race. | | | | mother could foresee the consequences of their |
| This is not just the story of a young girl and a Black | | | | actions. Actions that affect generations yet to come. |
| woman who struggled to overcome extreme poverty | | | | We can all learn something from this misguided |
| and enormous social prejudice, but also the story of | | | | manipulation. This part of African American history |
| perseverance. But through perseverance, and strength | | | | should not be left without notice. |