Book Description

Sophia Bracy Harris was born into a world with a stark dividing line: one no less real for being invisible but was keenly felt. A line separating black from white, the haves and have nots, and those deemed better than or less than. Any challenge to erase that line could be fatal, and it was maintained by law and enforced by violence. Finding My Own Way is the story of a courageous woman who defied the lines drawn by Jim Crow, poverty, illness, gender bias and what would later prove to be the biggest line left to cross-self acceptance. This moving memoir traces Sophia Bracy Harris' journey from a humble cotton field in rural Alabama, to lobbying in the halls of power of state government, organizing black childcare providers to demand justice for women and children; serving as a trustee on the boards of several leading national organizations; presenting on the world stage at the World Conference of Women in Nairobi, Kenya and being widely celebrated by her peers. Though earning countless prestigious awards, achieving key legislative victories and working alongside some of the nation's leading figures in women's equality and social justice movements, she still waged the very private, painful battle to answer the persistent question, "Am I good enough?" Narrated with grace, humor and authenticity, Finding My Own Way is a compelling journey of a life punctuated by challenges and triumphs and, most importantly, the discovery that by birth we are all created equal and more worthy than we ever imagined.