Summary of the Story

This book tells a story about a poor young African American boy born in Arkansas and who lived with his family under difficult, poverty-stricken conditions. Life was not so pleasant for the boy and his family due to his father's inability to secure jobs to support the family.

Living on cotton plantations to find work, the young boy was not able to attend school as other children did. He developed fears and inhibitions about life in general. Yet he learned to read by teaching himself. He did not allow farm life to block his ability to learn.

His self-determination was the road to success by overcoming all inhibitions that affected his ability to learn and move forward with his life accomplishments.