"This is the story of an African American family's striving for a better life after Maryland ended slavery. Four generations of the Barber family lived in St. Mary's County. Like the rest of the South, the county experienced an economic decline after the Civil War. There were few opportunities for poor families, Black or White. The county's White elite was characterized by racist attitudes and conservative nostalgia for the old Southern way of life. What challenges did the Barber family face? How did four generations of Barbers move ahead toward prosperous, fulfilling and dignified lives?" -- Page [4] of cover.
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