Some people’s lives become a beacon for the lives of others.

This is the true and compelling story of Reverend Francis Joseph “Bud” Atlas Sr., a black farmer who raised twelve highly successful children and quietly took on the fight for voting rights and justice— and won. As the tenth child, author Annie Chatman paints a vivid picture of a happy childhood and the hard work and rewards of life on the farm with her siblings. The book follows the family from 1926 through 1963. Set in a small town in the deep South, it highlights the struggle of whites and blacks navigating the “separate but equal” doctrine of the times, with every aspect of their lives separated—schools, churches, public restrooms—and blacks facing inequality at every turn. But Bud is determined that each of his children will become all they are capable of becoming, and despite financial poverty, the family is rich in hopes, dreams, and ambition.