Slue Foot: A Black Girl Grows Up in Midwest America

Margaret was always a leader, despite being a girl, Black, and poor. One of 15 children, she learned resilience as a youngster.

When her family moves to a small city in Southern Illinois, Margaret soon feels the sting of racial discrimination, unwanted sexual advances, sees her physical ‘flaws, ’ and struggles under the strict rules set by her authoritarian father. She emerges as an astute frontrunner who shows exceptional academic, literary and musical talent.

Above all, she never considers herself a victim. Instead, she moves on and advances to greater heights, setting an example for women everywhere.

I realized that there were some things I could change and some things I could not.

I could change my slue feet. All I had to do was turn each foot toward the center and forge straight ahead. And that’s what I did.