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In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

SLAVERY IS MORE THAN CHAINS AND SHACKLES
SLAVERY IS A STATE OF MIND

Immerse yourself in this highly anticipated political docu-drama set in the Deep South amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement.

Martha was a young white girl living in the Deep South, inundated with the racist sentiments of the times. But Martha's natural curiosity and generous heart led her to question this racial divide. When she discovered a primitive Negro family living deep in the woods near her house, everyone's life changed forever.

Take the journey of a lifetime alongside Martha as she forges relationships that lead to self discovery and a clearer understanding of the world around her. In the Land of Cotton provides an outstanding snapshot of life in the South during those troubled times - a snapshot everyone should take a close look at, regardless of era or color. The year was 1956.

Buy the book here. (Book info: ISBN-10: 1432734717; ISBN-13: 978-1432734718)

In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
Intimate Conversation with Martha and Ella Curry of EDC Creations: http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com/2009/04/intimate-conversation-with-author.html

Couldn't put this down!, April 22, 2009

By	Ashley Lee (DC)

Throughout history classes during my school, I was told of slavery, and the contempt that remained towards African-Americans in the south long after slavery was abolished. I was told of segregation, and cruelty, and violence and murder. All of this struck a chord with me as wrong, but the books we were given to read were never instrumental in evoking the rage and sadness these events merited. The acts them selves, and the paragraphs they elicited in our history books sufficed in that regard. Then I read Martha Taylor's In the Land of Cotton. I couldn't put this book down for a second. I read it from start to finish with very little interruption. The book reads as a novel, and so is thoroughly captivating in that regard, but then I realized that it's not fiction at all. It's Ms. Taylor's life story growing up during the Civil Rights Movement.

A wonderful mix of true life story and vivid history, June 5, 2009

By	DelGal's Book Reviews "DelGal" ( Delaware)

Martha Taylor expertly weaves a lovely, emotional, story that first intrigues the reader who glances at the synopsis, (thinking it is a fiction story) and learns about a girl who discovers a primitive black family living in the forest. Thus the story holds the reader's attention, who then comes to realize the truth throughout reading the entire story, and is hooked until the bittersweet ending. This is not only a tale about Martha and the lovely family that she discovers and her struggle to live through and understand racial inequality. There is also extensive highlights of current events in our nation in the mid 50's to the 60's included in the story such as continued racial prejudice, Martin Luther King's strive towards equality and the Vietnam war. This story serves as an outstanding example of how America was still living with racial hatred and inequality, despite the positive efforts made to abolish slavery roughly a hundred years earlier.

Coming of age story in the South, May 27, 2009

By	eclecticreviewer ( Iowa , USA )

In my parents' and grandparents' world skin color was an everyday reminder. In my world it had become the color of life. ~Martha Taylor

Martha Taylor's autobiography chronicles her life in the South starting in 1956 through 1968. She is a lonely white girl in Tennessee who bonds with her black housekeeper, Lucy Boyd. When her father loses his job they have to let Lucy go and unbeknownst to her family, Martha follows Lucy to her home. Martha is taken in by Lucy's family and meets Silas who is her first black playmate and the love of her life. Though Martha's family moves to Texas , she keeps in touch with the Boyd family and especially, Silas, who goes to Chicago to get a better education and joins the service to fight in Vietnam . Ms. Taylor includes the history of the civil rights movement, the assassinations of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King and the Vietnam War and how they affected her life.

It is a heartwarming, heart-wrenching, coming of age story that takes us back to a time of struggle and destiny. Ms. Taylor's writing is unpretentious and beautifully written. A must read for old and young alike.

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