Author Montrew Dunham first published this book in the fifties and later, in the sixties, as part of the Childhood of Famous Americans series. It has since evolved into The Young Patriots series, and is entertaining children today with its up-close look at the Civil Rights movement, through the eyes of young Mahalia Jackson.
Mahalia (known affectionately as "Halie") grew up in a three-room house on the levees of New Orleans, in a district called the Front of the Town. It was a poor neighborhood of immigrants. Her father served as pastor of a nearby church, and worked as a stevedore during the week. He also worked as a parttime barber. Mahalia admired his work ethic and his faith, and would often sneak a peek of him reading his big bible at the kitchen table.
"Somehow just watching him and being close to him made her feel safer when everything was dark and stormy outside," writes the author.
This book takes readers from Mahalia's poor upbringing all the way to her debut as a singer (in the church choir at age 5) to the March on Washington beside Dr. Martin Luther King, to her successful singing career that landed her the title, Queen of Gospel. Her story will thrill and amaze, as she follows her ambition to prove that any dream is reachable!