Li'l Boy Johnson

The Story Is Told In Two Parts The First From The Viewpoint Of The Mother Mamie Johnson And The Second From The Viewpoint Of The Son Li'L Boy. Set In The Deep South It Is A Portrait Of A Family That Will Not Allow Poverty And Tragedy To Bring It Down. Mamie The Matriarch Of The Family Is A Strong-Willed Articulate Black Woman Who Puts The Welfare Of Her Family Above All Else. As The Story Begins Her Husband Is Dead And She And Her Elderly Father Must Try To Provide For Eight Children. From The Beginning Li'L Boy A Twin Seems To Stand Out Above The Others Possessing Something Special That No One Can Put Into Words. The Story Follows The Johnson Family Through Their Growing Up Years Then Takes Us From His Own Point Of View Through Li'L Boy'S Young Adulthood. He Is Drafted Into The Army Serves In Vietnam Comes Back To Discover Prejudice And Hatred Still Exist At Home And Lashes Out In Rage At A White Man. Sentenced To One Year In Prison For The Crime Li'L Boy Learns To Deal With His Feelings. He Looks To 'Pa' Man His Grandfather For Inspiration After Mamie'S Death. After His Release He Finds That Doors Still Slam In His Face People Still Call Him Nigger And Refuse To Hire Him So He Decides To Open His Own Business With His Brothers And Sisters As Partners. Their Enterprise Flourishes And The Johnsons Are Finally Regarded With Respect By All Who Know Them.