** 2010 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist ** Between the years of 1940-1970, more than 5 million African Americans left the South and migrated north. It was the largest, mostly undocumented, migration in U.S. history. Edward and Algie Clover of Dublin, Georgia, along with their three daughters and Algie's mother, were among the millions who made that journey and found their promised land in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton is 650 miles from Dublin, about an 11-hour car ride. But, in the 1950s, it was a lifetime away from share-cropping, segregation, and the shadow of slavery. In Dayton, the Clovers would unexpectedly become a family of women, which for better or worse, is an inherited friendship. Tressie the duplicate, Honey the heart, and Viola the contradiction will test their mother Algie's ability to hold together that most sacred form of human identity, the family. Today, too many sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and wives are multi-tasking themselves into all the WRONG decisions. Algie made all the RIGHT decisions because her "yes" meant yes, and her "no" meant no. She isn't a martyr, a saint, or a hero, but Algie, like so many others that made that journey north, helped mold the African-American female genus. A kinship that will nurture the offspring of mammies, maids, and big Mommas into the highest echelons of fame, wealth, and recognition. But for now, Algie and her family are just thankful they were able to leave the plantations behind and find a place that feels something like home.
Sharon KD Hoskins
Sharon KD Hoskins was born in Dayton, Ohio and attended Hampton University (B.A., Mass Media) and the University of South Florida, Tampa (M.P.H., Public Health Practice). She has worked as a writer and editor for several publications in both private and public industries. Her first novel, To Handcuff Lightning, is a 2010 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist. Ms. Hoskins, who goes by KD, resides in Woodstock with her Devon Rex cats.
You can find her online at www.sharonkdhoskins.com
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