Outskirts Press, INC.

Growing up Grown

This book is about the life of an African American boy growing up on farms mostly in eastern North Carolina, in the nineteen forties and fifties. He began working at age four, taking on tasks that should have been reserved for adults. With only internal personal resistance, he managed to emerge maybe not unscathed, but more resilient and determined. Through his various experiences, he managed to develop a sound philosophy for interpreting his environment. The author set out to write a book geared to black youth, with the intent of providing them with a history of their ancestors. The thinking was that they would be able to understand in more detail their history, and thus connect to an ongoing struggle for equality. The author’s goal was achieved. However, it was accompanied by a pleasant and unexpected bonus. The bonus was the fact that it reaches well-beyond black youth. It reaches all youth, plus all adults. This book provides lessons in humility, respect, commitment, temperance, patience, and careful thought.