1. FREEDOM

·  Muhammed, Lizzie, Lem, and Joshua, Moses and Saran had no freedom

·  Shep, Malcolm, Tommy, Planter, Jennie, Elijah, Goldie, Abbie, Luvenia, and Mandy, Virginia and the other family members had freedom

·  Definition: The condition of being free from restraints. You can do what you want when you want, with some rules. Book’s definition: doing what you want, using your time the way you want to use it, being treated equally, and being able to run with the kids, walk along, and pick the flowers.

·  Sacrifices. Muhammed left family at home with the chance of never seeing them again. Lizzie left her family to save her family. Lem was beaten and also left his family for their safety. Joshua left wife/girlfriend and community. Elijah risks life to save David and had to leave family for his own safety. Luvenia gives up college by trying to fit in with whites and gain their support. Tommy chose civil rights over a basketball scholarship. Skeeter protests, gets beat up, and loses support of white community.

2. FAMILY

·  Family are people who love you and support you, no matter what. Lizzie and Lem and Josh. Lizzie whips because she tries to help Lem.

·  Elijah and Abbie’s family supported them when they went to look for David. They also supported Elijah when he had to leave them for everyone’s safety.

·  Family will guide you through life. Miss Etta guided Luvenia, how to earn money, taught important lessons (losing the job, rent party). Tommy’s family guides him through segregation to do what he thinks is right.

·  Family acts and behaves well and kindly, being supportive. Malcolm supports Shep when he is sick and needs him. (transportation to the reunion)

3. FAMILY

·  Muhammed captured, knew what freedom felt like and that he should stay alive to feel it again

·  Lizzie knew what might happen to Joshua and Lem, considered survival first. Her choices brought her freedom.

·  Elijah had same work ethic from the family culture and that background helped him be disciplined and focused.

·  Luvenia’s dad moved back to Curry and worked fields; she made different choices and the family history in making hard choices gave her inspiration.

·  Tommy drew on work ethic and family history to make the right choice for him and shackle himself to sheriff.

·  Malcolm knew how much family meant, how much family meant in the past, and how important Curry is to the whole family. He had to get Shep there so he was included in the family and could draw strength from the family.

·  Knowing family background gets you culture, traditions, and customs. They all knew they had freedom once from Muhammad’s stories of Africa and they fought to regain it.

·  They all had the work ethic, working hard just to survive.

·  They fought for equal treatment. Tommy fought with the shackles. Luvenia started her own business.

4. EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENT

·  Elijah saved David, let the sheriff be selfish, and left (60-66)

·  Elijah’s motive had nothing to do with race.

·  Tommy attends biggest hs in Johnson City, becomes a man as he stands up for black rights and protests (115-120)

·  Malcolm persisted as Shep lost money, as they missed the bus, etc. (155)

·  Tommy Lewis fought in Vietnam.

·  Jennie Epps married Tommy and became a doctor (against the odds). (199)

·  All these things change a person’s life AND the way a community looks at life.

7. LAND

·  Land in Curry is important in the beginning because Lewises are prisoners to the land and make it grow. They get no money in return. Their history becomes rooted onto the land.

·  Their history, their accomplishments in America, their families, and their burial sites are all on the land.

·  After slavery is abolished in Elijah’s time, Elijah and Abbie gain a sense of independence and a large sense of freedom. They can make their own crop decisions and choose who they interact with.

·  For the next several generations, this kept the Lewis family afloat.

·  Lewis family history was rooted there from beginning of slavery to the present day. They owned it and then they reaped the benefits. They returned there for family reunions.

·  Elijah bought up land as he could.

6.  CULTURE

·  1800’s Joe Haynes owned land (slavery).

·  Burial: shells, rock, flowers, broken. In treed parts of land that was useless for farming.

·  Sang field song which developed into blues, etc. (aab)

·  Religion: Christianity came late (after 100 years) so they continued African religions (animism) and voodoo.

·  Late Christianity came. They were allowed eventually to have own worship. Also kept spirt houses for own shouting worship.

·  1900 blacks had more freedom.