By Barbara Ann Medlock
We called it the Great Migration.
African American families moved across the country, from the rural south to big cities by the millions. Many were young men of color who fought on foreign seas and lands for a country they knew little about. But they learned fast. They packed families in cars and headed north to escape Jim Crow Laws and poverty, To find work and earn new lives. They planted lasting roots in big cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, where millions of new stories are worth the telling. This is Bobann’s story.
Her family’s Route 66 odyssey began in rural Austin. On a late summer’s night their ’48, Buick stopped in front of a two-story greystone on the southside of Chicago. Nested in the rear seat was their few belongings and precious toddler Bobann. The young family arrived eager to build a better life. A sleepy-eyed Bobann woke to a grey new world.
This new life meant goodbye to glorious sunny morning walks through grassy fields to Grandma Hattie’s house and unconditional love in warm hugs. Her old life was far away. Replaced with soaring centuries-old buildings destined to be explored by a little brown girl. It wasn’t long before Mary Janes filled with white sox clicked on city sidewalks – not only on Sundays to church.
This became a new place to grow and stretch her imagination.
Bobann discovered a new world where everyday life became an adventure. The city was fun and sometimes worth the ire of parents who tried to curb her enthusiasm. The old soul tucked in a little girl’s body began to love her new home and realize its promises.
Chicago became the little African American girl’s playground. But her new play yard had new rules.
Bobann is scheduled for release in Spring 2022 on Club Lighthouse Publishing.
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