Expands the historical narrative of the black freedom struggle to embrace the work, roles, and contributions of southern black farmers and the organisations they formed. Whereas existing scholarship generally views agriculture as a site of oppression and exploitation of black people, this book reveals agriculture as a site of resistance.
Jessica Lloyd has three goals: earn a criminal justice degree from the University of New Orleans, save money, and marry a respectable man. But her best-laid plans falter when her sister, Crystal, dies unexpectedly. Jessica's world falls apart, and she drops out of school. Trying to escape the deep feelings of grief, Jessica moves to Indiana. But life there is not what she imagines, and she finds herself lost and confused. As if losing her younger sister isn't enough tragedy, she stumbles through life with two failed marriages and two children. With all of the trials in her life, Jessica begins to doubt her faith in God; she wonders if God has given up on answering her prayers. As Jessica's life falls apart and she experiences an unbelievable chain of events, she will either follow the tricks of the devil in disguise or listen carefully to discover what God truly wants for her. "My Cross to Bear" follows one family's journey through its trials and is a story of both reconciliation and love.