She Stood For Freedom

She Stood For Freedom

Picture book
When we think of the Civil Rights movement we tend to remember
the big names such as Martin Luther King Jr. But for each of them
there were a lot of people who stayed more in the background while
taking serious risks and doing their best to advance the cause. Joan
Trumpauer Mulholland was one of those people. Loki Mulholland and
Angela Fairwell's She Stood For Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil
Rights Hero creates for the reader an intimate portrait of her.
Joan grew up in the Jim Crow South where all the little children
loved by Jesus were not allowed to sit together in church. Seeing a
one room shack that served as the school for black children, she
recognized the unfairness of all and decided that segregation was wrong.
As a college student Joan joined the Civil Rights Movement and
became involved in sit-ins and other demonstrations. At one point she
was arrested. She spent two months in a very notorious prison. A lot
of whites, considering her a traitor to her race, put her life in
peril. She was on the KKK's most wanted list. Even that didn't stop
her.
Three of Joan's quotes in the book really inspire me. I believe
that as we head into a very scary time to be alive in America we must
ponder on them and act on their strong hope messages.
"You can never go wrong by doing what is right. It might not be
easy, but it is always right."
"I'm as ordinary as they come. I saw something was wrong and
decided to do something about it. It takes all of us to make a
difference. You just have to make the choice."
"Anyone can make a difference. You don't have to be a Dr. King
or a Rosa Parks. [These days a Bernie Saunders or an Elizabeth
Warren] It doesn't matter how old or young you are. Find a problem,
get some friends together, and go fix it. Remember, you don't have to
change the world...just change your world."
Words to live by as we enter a very frightening and uncertain
2017! All of us, no matter how ordinary, can fight for freedom and
justice.
On a personal note, as you read this we'll be about to celebrate New
Years Eve. Hopefully we'll engage in responsible celebrating,
especially in states like Maine where predicted snow could make drunk
driving even more inadvisible than usual. I have got great plans. I
am going to read near the Christmas tree with Joey cat. I have
Christmas candy on hand. Since I'm staying up and we may have snow I
am cutting church in the morning.
A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers, with wishes for a
safe and happy New Years Eve.
jules hathaway



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