Joan Trindle Stiver
Lizzie Blue befriends Effie Mae at a time in our history when white and black girls were not allowed to be friends. Their time together is short, but their feelings for each other run deep. Lizzie grows up a lot on her tenth birthday as she begins to learn about prejudice and discrimination.
A note from the author: When I was in the fourth grade during the fifties, our family vacationed in the south. My dad, mom, brother, and I were walking down a city sidewalk when a black man walked toward us. The black man stepped off the sidewalk down into the gutter and bowed to my dad, a white man. I remember seeing the top of his bald head. I looked up at my mom and started to ask "why". Mom gave me a quick "Be quiet, I'll tell you later" look. I was confused and I couldn't understand. In this story Lizzie Blue feels the same underlying confusion and asks, "Why do some people have to risk their lives for freedom?"
Joan Trindle Stiver is a retired elementary teacher and lives in Middlebury, Indiana. She received her B.A. and M.S. in Education from Purdue University. Mrs. Stiver taught for two years in a private school and twenty - four years in public schools in Indiana. She especially enjoyed teaching about the Underground Railroad to her classroom children. She and her husband have four grown children and seven delightful grandchildren.
"Effie Mae, I never thought about it before but I guess my family already has freedom. Why do you and your family have to run away to get freedom? I mean, it's such a long way and it's so dangerous." "It's because our skin is dark, Lizzie."
Several seconds of silence passed as Lizzie way trying to understand. "That just doesn't make sense, Effie Mae."
Lizzie's new friend slowly hung her head. Lizzie thought she was going to cry. "I know," said Effie Mae.
