Video: Local Woman Recounts Lessons Learned During Public School Desegregation

TUPELO , Miss. (WCBI) – A Northeast Mississippi woman is sharing her recollections of desegregation through a new children’s book.

Juanita Floyd calls her book “The Summer of 1969.”  It is filled with illustrations , and is written as a poem, by local artist Sara Berry.  The book  tells the story of how Floyd’s mother prepared her to enter into a new school during desegregation.

Floyd and Berry signed copies of the book at “Reed’s Gumtree Bookstore”   They hope the book will impact many school age children, and also remind everyone of important lessons from the past.

“I know we all have to deal with racism, but if you read this story, if you read this book, you will see what my mother did, it looks racism right in the eye and immediately conquers it with love, that is the story, to love everybody , regardless of race or socio economic status, that’s what we have to do.,” Floyd said.

We will have more from Floyd and Berry, and their unique collaboration in the next few weeks.