Elliott Lawrence

Dear Mildred D. Taylor,

I never understood discrimination as a child. I hadn't been exposed to racism, so I couldn't figure out why it was so prevalent in some parts of the world. Why do bad things happen to good people? It didn't make any sense to me, and it still doesn't. But now that I've read your book Let the Circle Be Unbroken, I know what did happen and what I can do about it.

When I read the story, I felt so close to the characters, especially Cassie. She seemed like most kids-she seemed like me. Cassie acted similarly to many children, but what really struck me was the world she lived in. Prejudice and racism were so strong back in those times that I just couldn't imagine what it would be like to walk a mile in Cassie's shoes. How did people live through the tough times, especially the children? How did they put up with all the cruelty and violence? I felt anger and contempt at how some of the white people acted towards African Americans. They treated everyone like a slave. I just couldn't stand it.

When T.J. was accused of murder and given the death penalty, I wanted to throw the book down and cry. Why did it have to be that way? Did the world not understand the word "justice"? Innocent people deserve better.

But the part that really set me off was when Stacey left home. If kids had to go and work so early just to support their family, then I don't think I would make a very good kid. The fact that African Americans could do barely anything about it was absolutely horrible. They just had to resign themselves reluctantly to the fact that most white people just didn't accept them.
After reading your book, a feeling passed over me, like a pit was welling up inside my throat, making me just want to scream. It was something that made me want to tell everybody about your story. About how those times should never be forgotten. The sad part is that those times have been forgotten by so many people. So many people just live their lives as if nothing has ever happened, some continuing to discriminate against others. It's as if we continue to take one step forward and two steps back. Tension among people will never stop; it's just the sad truth, and if we continue with this way of life, history will repeat itself. That's why we all have to make an effort to accept others.

Your book is a call for integration among people, that no one person is superior to the next. I couldn't agree more, and hopefully the book can inspire people like it inspired me.

Sincerely,
Elliott Lawrence