FORGED (ePub)

Forged: When Sugar Taste Like Salt is a unique story about the truths of life, which in this case, is unsettling to the human heart, disquieting to the soul, and disconcerting to the sense of justice to all humanity. Life brings about change, and as humans we must make adjustments to these changes if we're to evolve, and become better, and learn from our mistakes. Never in human history has it been so arduous or problematic to make those kinds of adjustments, than during the Jim Crow era in American History for the non-repentent white man. This is the backdrop for a tale of anguish and agony, that leaves a legacy of heartaches for a Negro girl growing up in West Monroe, Louisiana. Taking place during the dark and ominous Civil Rights era, Jacqueline Snowden is born 'to live out loud' despite being constantly reminded to be seen and not heard. This sordid and graphic story wasn't meant to be voiced to a nation that wants to sweep all of its dirty laundry under the rug. Jacqueline as a very young child knows that this concept, 'separate but equal' is unjust. If things are separate from their origin, what guarantees that its kept equal? This was meant to remain a secret because it was too disconcerting to share with the people who knew they weren't 'equal' . Being born Negro in America guarantees that you aren't treated equally. It took centuries for white America to acknowledge that slavery was wrong because it was the law for over four hundred years. The time came when white America needed to acknowledge that separate but equal was unjust,3 and to integrate with all deliberate speed. But for Jacqueline, integration was painful because separate but equal was a firmly established way of life. This autobiography exposes the filthy underbelly and impact on her journey to contest this law. Jacqueline Snowden forges her parents signature on a Freedom of Choice form and becomes, in fact, the first West Monroe High School Negro REBEL.