I recently came across an enlightening article by Heather Murphy Capps, my favorite author of middle grade fiction. In it, she describes why she used magical realism to navigate the difficult issues of social justice, inherited trauma, and bullying in her recently published novel, “The Rule of Three.” In her introduction, she clarifies a common […]
Written in 1900, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was born of the oppression and cruelty of post-Reconstruction Era America. It is a strong, rousing, inspirational song, full of faith and hope. It rings out the resilience and determination of a people striving for acceptance and equality. And, with its final line, “True to Our Native […]
The Christmas and New Year holidays fell in the time between the end of one farming cycle and the beginning of the next. While much of my commentary below applies to the plantation system in general, I am writing primarily about Virginia. In December, work on plantations there was at the lowest level of the […]
The Plot Thickens 