Mama, I Just Didn’t Know
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This is the story of a child growing up during the Civil Rights Era. The following are accounts of scenes of the day and how she took life for granted until she began to understand what was really going on during that time.
This is also the story of a woman who with her husband worked hard to provide a good life and a great model of how to live with courage and integrity. The only thing is that as a child, I didn't understand. I just didn't know.
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About the Book
It is the 1960s, and Eleanor just doesn't know. She does not think it is a big deal to sit at the counter at Woolworth’s and eat lunch. But her mother knows otherwise. She knows that until recently, black customers were not allowed to sit at the counter like the white customers were.
Eleanor’s mother is her hero. She works hard to help put food on the table, takes her children to church, and opens her heart and home to everyone. As her mother teaches Eleanor about life through her faith and steadfastness, the girl grows to admire her mother for her strength, compassion, and grit as she faces one challenge after the other. While Dr. Martin Luther King marches and Rosa Parks makes a stand, Eleanor’s mother slowly loses her sight, but never her determination to help those less fortunate than her—even in the most difficult of times.
Mama, I Just Didn't Know is an inspirational children’s tale that reveals a glimpse into an important time in our nation’s history and the life of a woman determined to leave her mark on the world.
About the Author
Eleanor Simmons Vaughn is a retired music teacher who founded Celebrate Diversity, an after-school program to promote self-confidence while children shared and learned about ethnic backgrounds. A proud mother of four, she currently lives with her husband in Asheville, North Carolina. This is her first book.