“Somewhere along the line, we give up counting.
Somewhere along the line, we just give in.
Somewhere along the line, we stop reporting.
Somewhere along the line, we die a little.”

This memoir is so important. This work is raw and it is brave and it breaks down what it is like to grow up in this country and be different. Maxine Beneba Clark tells her story with grace and fire. In her words I was in the playground with her, I could see and hear and even smell the abuse she dealt with as a child. I was in the classrooms with her in high school and I was especially in her house on that fateful day at the end of her tale. This is a memoir of family strength, of resilience and of kindness. Trigger warnings for racism, abuse