The Girl from Shakerag: A Sharecropper'S Daughter Migrates from Hardscrabble Landscape to a Land of Gold (Paperback)

<p>In the beginning . . . at several crossroads, Nellie Joe makes choices that don't always produce the best results. For the most part, she must fend for herself as she travels an unfriendly and dangerous road. At nine years old, she discovers a silent self within her that signals when something feels odd. To her delight and surprise, this new guidance gives her an edge over potential damaging forces in her life. Inquisitive by nature and full of wonderment, Nellie Joe seeks social acceptance without success. When she stumbles and falls and picks herself up time and again, she stoutly maintains her singleness of purpose. Several of her interactions with others test her resolve, but her determination and unwillingness to give up helps her find answers and solutions. In time, Nellie finds similarities between her female relatives and friends. She calls them survivors, AKA, women warriors. Although each woman individually exhibits different thoughts, ideas and personalities, collectively, they come together in understanding each other's basic human desires and needs. What distinguishes them from other women is their steadfastness on the important duties and attitudes pertaining to their gender and family, thus forming their personal beliefs. Among these women, Nellie finds gratitude, compassion, loyalty, truth, integrity, character, and trustworthiness. Hailing from diverse backgrounds, fate has placed each of these women in various situations and circumstances, where they must decide who they are and what they represent. Ultimately, they must choose their own fates. Nellie learns that no one is born a warrior. To achieve this status, one must trek fearlessly through trial and error into enlightenment.</p>