The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

In light of the recent racial murders in America, this was a timely book to read.  Sometimes it feels that nothing ever changes.  People fear those who are different.  First they attack with words....then violence feels justified.  It feels like it happens to minorities today even more than ever, although Will Smith says, "Racism is not getting worse, it's getting filmed."  And it happened in the Kentucky mountains to the blue skinned people in the 1930's.

Cussy Mary was determined to be a librarian with the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Service, started by President Franklin Roosevelt to create jobs for women and bring reading to the worst poverty areas of the Appalachians.  I appreciated this peek into our history of these brave women.  Even more interesting was the theme captured of the blue skinned people like Cussy Mary.  She not only endured harsh words and shunning from fellow librarians, but also from law enforcement and most of the little town she belonged to.  The local preacher believed she was from the devil and tried to kill her, firmly quoting Bible passages about "her kind".  Just like the black people, the blue skinned people were not allowed at social events, nor could they use the white restrooms.

In the end, I loved how Cussy Mary's library patrons stood up for her when the sheriff refused to allow her to marry a white.  Those mountain folks who had gotten to know and love her, spoke up.  What a great lesson...when we get to know those who are from a different culture or race, it gets more personal.  We understand more of their struggles.  We identify with them.  We love them.

May we stand up to the racism in our communities.  May we dare to speak up.  May God give us the eyes to see injustice.  May we NOT sit by silently.