Goin’ Someplace Special
Paticia C. McKissack
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Atheneum September 2001 0-689-81885-8 $16.00
32 pages 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 Ages 8–12

‘Tricia Ann has someplace special in her heart. The story is set in a small southern town, in the 1950s. At twelve years of age, ‘Tricia Ann believes the time has finally come that she can make the journey alone to that special place. After convincing her grandmother, Mama Frances, and heeding a few last minute warnings to “be particular, hold yo’ head up, and act like you b’long to somebody,” she is on her way.
          ‘Tricia Ann’s journey is filled with obstacles and the heartbreaking reality of “Jim
Crow.” First, ‘Tricia Ann boards the bus and is forced to sit in the “colored section,” in the back. As the bus fills, ‘Tricia Ann gives up her seat to a friend of Mama Frances, though there are empty seats available just ahead of the Jim Crow sign. On reaching the Peace Fountain in the middle of town, ‘Tricia Ann is overtaken with excitement, with the beauty of the fountain, only to be jolted back to reality when she sees the sign on a nearby bench that says: FOR WHITES ONLY. No matter that her grandfather was a stonemason who worked on the Peace Fountain.
          Next on the journey are Jimmy Lee, the street vendor, whose brother cooks in a restaurant across the way, where they cannot be served, and Mr. John Willis, a doorman at the Southland Hotel, who has a smile and a kind word. Suddenly, ‘Tricia Ann finds herself caught up in a crowd outside the hotel that is awaiting a celebrity. As she is pushed and shoved in the midst of the crowd, she finds herself inside the hotel’s grand lobby, where she is quickly pointed out and humiliated by the manager who announces, “No colored people are allowed!”
          Holding back tears, she retreats to the Mission Church ruins, wishing that her grandmother were there to help her with her journey. Once again, ‘Tricia is met with a word of encouragement, this time from Blooming Mary, who reminds her that she is not alone, but that if she listens carefully, she will hear her grandmother. Mama Frances’ words ring in her ears, reminding her that “You are somebody, a human being—no better, no worse than anybody else in this world.”
          ‘Tricia’s final encounter is in front of the Grand Music Palace, a six-year-old boy asks if she would be coming into the theatre. His older sister reprimands him, bringing back the cold reminder that colored people could not enter through the front door, but only through the back, to sit in the Buzzard’s Roost. Now ‘Tricia Ann is determined to complete her journey, as she turns the corner, to see a wonderful sight, what Mama Frances called, the “doorway to freedom.” No more anger, no more hurt or embarrassment. She has reached Someplace Special. Across the front of the building the message read: PUBLIC LIBRARY: ALL ARE WELCOME.
          This poignant story is reminiscent of the author’s childhood, in Nashville, TN, during the 1950s. While the events are fictionalized, they serve to teach history to our children and promote discussion about society today. Jim Crow laws have been stricken down, but the spirit and attitude of those laws unfortunately still exist in some places, causing the pain and frustration that leave the emotional scars of life, yet the words of encouragement continue. Some of our predecessors also had the world opened up to them, through books in “Somplace Special”—the public library. Beautiful illustrations are provided by Jerry Pinkney.

—Katherine Beecham