Facing the History of George Wallace

Peggy Wallace Kennedy’s memoir, The Broken Road, transcends family loyalty by providing truth and moral guidelines for her sons, for her grandchildren and for the archives of American history. This takes guts.

When a teenager rebels against parents we stand back and make room for his/her mistakes. However, when a much younger child instinctively knows a father is wrong in both his behavior and in his attitudes there is often no way to rebel, or to voice those fundamental disagreements. For some of these children it becomes a task of a lifetime to not only script a different roadmap for oneself but to go against a prevailing (and misguided) belief that family loyalty means keeping silent.

Peggy Wallace knew early and instinctively that her father, George Wallace, was wrong about segregation, wrong in his beliefs about the structure of society and wrong in his actions as governor of Alabama. When she reached an age to overcome her fears and speak, it wasn’t as a rebellious teenager lashing out, but as a person dedicated to the rights of all people; a daughter burdened at an early age with rejecting the very substance of a powerful father; a daughter with a need – obligation – to give voice to her objections; a daughter who was and is willing to bear the shunning by friends and family who would judge her for not remaining ‘loyal’ (silent) about her family. Such a judgement is unfair.

This is not a vindictive ‘tell all’ memoir by a disgruntled daughter. Peggy Wallace carefully illustrates her father’s personality and gives enough insight into his own background for the reader to understand the connections to the choices he made. Further, she provides a clear picture of much of what happened during the Civil Rights Movement. We need personal windows into history. The actions of our politicians make no sense without the fabric of their lives. George Wallace was merciless and destructive. He was also a loving father and kind. He was complicated. We may or may not believe that he ultimately changed for the better, but it doesn’t matter.

What matters in this book is that Peggy Wallace Kennedy has given her family and all Americans a portrait of a troubled time and a troubled man who had a grave impact on all of our lives. This is vital to understanding both the past and the present. We should all be thankful for the book.

Why I am Going to a Writers’ Conference

Why I am Going to a Writers’ Conference

My Application After Retirement I’m pretty old, although I don’t feel it, and I’ve been quietly stealing moments to write for several decades. My children are grown.  My working career is finished. I’ve paid college tuitions, sat on not for profit boards, facilitated civil rights activities and marched against wars. I’ve edited business papers andContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Memoir and Poetry

Memoir and Poetry

There is a rhythm to the written word, a rhythm that has obvious importance in poetry, but is equally important in prose.  I recognize it when I read it.  It entices me away from distractions and makes me take notice.  That one sentence – simplicity within swirls of symbols each pulling meaning from the pageContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Racism, Addiction, Politics and Thoughtfulness: A Memoir

Racism, Addiction, Politics and Thoughtfulness: A Memoir

Last night I finished reading Brother to a Dragonfly, a decades old memoir by Will Campbell who grew up in rural Mississippi at the dawn of the Civil Rights movement. I then had a hard time sleeping as I was thinking about my reactions. Clearly, there are many voices from that period, but few are asContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Inspiration from Living in Many Different Places

Inspiration from Living in Many Different Places

While editing old manuscripts, I find memories.  This doesn’t surprise me as I have always used the places I have lived to inspire stories.  Different houses, different towns, different cities have captured my imagination.  I was lucky to have traveled and to have lived in so many places.  I can’t say the same would beContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Traditional or Self-Publish: What’s Best for You?

Traditional or Self-Publish: What’s Best for You?

Robert Pruett, Founder and Publisher of Brandylane Publishers, Inc. in Richmond VA spoke at the Civic Center in Cape Charles about the many different publishing options currently available. It was a gray and raining day, but the wisdom Pruett conveyed along with some hard facts was like a ray of sunshine for the writers whoContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Older Politicians Serve by Retiring

Older Politicians Serve by Retiring

Many of us refuse to stop. We have things we want to accomplish and we don’t want our age to interfere. But it does.  Our brains change just as our hair grays and our bones thin.  It takes a little longer to absorb new information and a little longer to determine consequences.  But for mostContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Finally, I See My Daughter

Finally, I See My Daughter

I have a daughter who is forty years younger than me.  She lives in Peru, travels in jungles and deserts, speaks Spanish, and loves being in love. She also writes. Words drip from her fingers like rain from a leaf, each one clear, fresh and capable of supporting life. Regardless, I think given our ageContinue ReadingContinue Reading

A Solution to Facebook Stealing Privacy

A Solution to Facebook Stealing Privacy

Facebook now makes me paranoid.  No kidding.  Yesterday my partner opened his computer to ads that were for products I’d been looking at on my computer– the exact same ads!  Do I care that he sees what I’m looking at?  Well, yes, I do.  I value my sense of privacy just as I value myContinue ReadingContinue Reading

A Place to Call Home

A Place to Call Home

Recently a man in a book club said ‘we are all looking for a place to call home.” He said it twice, and I was caught off-guard. Was he speaking about himself or the story? I looked at him. He didn’t look sad or unhappy. He sat next to his wife.  They’d both read theContinue ReadingContinue Reading