Willie E. Lowther / The Journey of My Life / from Locust Grove to Harlem

This memoir which spans most of the 20th century is the portrait of an ordinary man who was extraordinary in so many ways. Willie E. Lowther s was a life lived with faith, courage, and insight that transcended its limitations. Early 1930 finds young Willie Lowther up North wondering what is to become of his life. The country is in the grips of the Depression, and work is at a minimum. After months of wrenching unemployment, his break comes when he is hired to cut hair. In the next decade, as so many blacks of his generation, he struggled to make a living and a life for himself in Harlem. Over the years, his talent, faith and perseverance prove sufficient to make real his dreams. In this moving book that encapsulated the struggles of an earlier generation of African-Americans, we observe Willie Lowther being mentored by a generous widow who recognizes his potential and nurtures its development. Eventually he becomes owner of the very barbershop where he got his break and buys a second shop, himself hiring and mentoring a number of young barbers, many fresh out of the South. Over the years, we cheer as the shy boy who had traveled North to find his fortune realizes his potential to become a successful businessman, church deacon, and community leader. But this is not only the story of a man s public life and assumption of responsibilities. It also a story of Willie Lowther s personal religious faith and of his dedication to family. Evocative of the struggles of a generation to whom the African-American community owes so much, gripping in their portrait of determination to succeed, delightful in their depiction of a deeply-lived personal life, the various segments of this well-crafted memoir will reflect the depth and richness of this multitalented man. Willie E. Lowther / The Journey of My Life / from Locust Grove to Harlem is an important addition to the literature of African-American migration and adaptation. Hastie Lowther has written a warm and insightful account of her husband s long and productive life. Herself from North Carolina, she readily understood the accomplishments of this man with whom she shared almost a half century of married life. In this memoir, she has sought to record his life for future generations to enjoy and benefit from. A few years before his death, the couple sat down to tape his stories. Subsequently, Mrs. Lowther added an historical and sociological dimension to make Willie E. Lowther / The Journey of My Life / from Locust Grove to Harlem a story that will enrich our understanding and appreciation of the contributions of an earlier generation.