City Girl Country Soul
Inspired by Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Gone Crazy in Alabama was a phenomenal book. Rita Williams-Garcia paints vivid pictures of the lives of the Gaithers, Trotters, and Charles family. Delphine, almost a teenager, is responsible for herself and her sisters. While in Alabama, she uses her keen observation skills, emotional awareness, and sensitivity to help her cope with the reality of her family.
I love that this book is intergenerational. Particularly in Black families, hierarchy is established early. We are constantly being told to “stay in a child’s place” or to shut up before someone gives us “something to cry about.” We were taught to listen to our elders and never talk back.
I love the chapter “Sad Irons” because it perfectly describes the feeling of going back to what you know to help you through what feels so hard to bear. It’s wild because I felt that, and as a sentiment, I understand the significance of the white cotton sheets. It was about purity, comfort, and survival.
In the book, Delphine braces for her mother to have a reaction. I particularly love the imagery of her recalling her mother’s past responses. I also love that Cecile held her own. I love how strong-spirited she is and how highly misinterpreted she is. Great mothers also make the choice to step away. And writing Delphine that letter was a beautiful declaration.
Lastly, I love how the story ends with a 900-mile car ride back to New York. My favorite part is the recollection of the memories they made while driving in that car. Though it wasn’t the end of their journey, a new baby would be arriving in their family.
The car symbolizes so much for me because I’ve had my car for 13 years, and it has just under 80,000 miles. We’ve had many challenges along the way, and somehow, she is still taking us places. Their car represented more than just a car; it was an antique, a museum, and a world of exploration. They have lived to see the bigger picture.