Making Mary is the compelling story of the life and legacy of Vivian Johnson, a troubled soul trapped in an even more troubling time in American history. Based on a true story, the narrative is centered on Vivian's unending relationship drama with Lee Hiram, her less-than-apt suitor, the microcosm of which Muhammad uses to display for the reader the depths of contemporary relationships within a greater overall context.
Set mostly during the transition between the Civil War and the Great Depression, Making Mary chronicles the daily travails of a nation – and its people – in flux. Still haunted by the ever-present specter of racism, the Johnson family soon succumbs to the lure of the Great Migration, joining the millions of other poor Black families seeking to escape the oppressive clutches of the South.
APEX Reviews gives Making Mary FIVE STARS!
For such an intelligent, well-crafted, and much needed read,
Dedra Muhammad deserves to be celebrated for both her bravery
in crafting such a powerful story and her selflessness in sharing
it with the masses. Highly recommended!
| Dedra Muhammad was born Dedra Bradley in Pontiac, Michigan. She attended Pontiac Central High School, and landed a full track and field scholarship to the University of Michigan, where she studied Education and Sports Management. Later, she earned a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education. Making Mary was inspired by true accounts of the author's family history. |  |