Hazel Bratton-Sanders was a childhood friend of my mom, the late Rev. Julia E. Smith. She remained a friend of my mom until her death on July 21, 1991. As a child, I loved the stories she told about her childhood, my grandparents, whom I never knew, and about her early days in Gary, Indiana. During the later years of my mom’s life, she often told me she wanted to write a book about her life. While I encouraged her and even provided a tape recorder for her telling “her” story, I failed to take a more active role in helping her record the interesting story of her life. On July 21, 1991, it was too late to develop the book my mother wanted to be entitled, Angels, Watching Over Me.
When Mrs. Sanders called to ask me if I knew someone, who could write “her” story, I took her very seriously. My love and admiration for her led me to call several persons, whom I knew were local authors, about writing her biography. Their response was not encouraging. So, I discussed this with Dr. James Lane of Indiana University Northwest, who had written newspaper articles about a period of Mrs. Sanders’ life. Dr. Lane said, “Dr. Smith, why don’t you write a children’s book?” What he said to me led me to believe that maybe I was getting a second chance. Thus, the seed was planted for Against All Odds: The Life and Times of Hazel Bratton-Sanders.
In the late 1920s the common proper words identifying African-Americans were coloreds and Negroes. Black was an insulting ethnic term to many people. Mrs. Sanders and my mom were included in the 18 Negro students, who were used to integrate Emerson School in Gary, Indiana. That group was among the most intelligent or academically able students at the all-Negro Virginia Street School. The integration efforts failed, a race riot occurred and all 18 students’ lives were drastically changed from their expectations. This is the story of one of those victims of hate.
Mrs. Sanders and her fellow students wanted an education and were denied. Today Black children have multiple opportunities to get an education and too many youths lack the desire to use them. How odd! How sad! How tragic!
I am writing this book in memory of my mom. As I capture the life of Mrs. Sanders, I hope that this book will motivate at least one child to push against all odds for an education. That will honor the sacrifices made by Emerson 18.