Willa Mae Abrams Webb

Wash Willa Mae Abrams Webb

Wash, an engaging page-turner, is creative non-fiction, about a black, freed, slave struggling for his manhood in the post civil war south. It is a love story of a young man living out the principles taught in his Christian, God fearing, home. Wash's story of former slave descendents encountering constant challenges to their faith, family, friends, and future reflects a universal experience. His struggles to honor these commitments create conflict, confusion, and tragedy. Daily efforts to become educated and improve the lot of his family, friends and himself are frustrated by racist policies of he new south. He pursues the lofty goal of farm ownership. Wash's distress and degrading experiences force him to mature quickly, accept reality, and new responsibilities. His intelligence and humble manner depict many southern stereotypes used to overcome injustice and assure survival in the reconstruction of the south. He advances his cause by using the oppressive self-interests of white society to achieve his goals of farm ownership and community harmony, through hard work. He gains his farm, gives a portion of his land to establish educational and a religious institutions. He marries and begins a family that must be uprooted in order that his children find education and work in their aspiration to become productive citizens.