Hot Dogs On The Road: An American Indian girl's reflections on growing up brown in a black and white world

Lena Epps Brooker's parents had a special hope for their children. As American Indians living in the Jim Crow South, they had faced extreme prejudice all their lives, and they wanted a better future for their children. They hoped that one day, Brooker and her two brothers could use the same water fountain as white children. They hoped that one day, those with "brown" skin wouldn't be devalued by a bigoted society.

Brooker took up her parents' dream. In this insightful look back at her life, she shows you how she moved from innocence to awareness. It didn't take long for the happy little girl to begin to understand the ways the government and population of North Carolina kept her from the same opportunities as white children. Despite these challenges, Brooker refused to give up. She persevered and became the first American Indian graduate at an all-white women's college in Raleigh.

As Brooker takes you from her early life through her college experiences, she fills her memoir with wisdom, love, and laughter. Despite all the obstacles she faced living in a racist society, she never stopped believing that she could embrace and embody her parents' optimistic vision of the future.

Lena Epps Brooker was born in North Carolina when Jim Crow laws were prevalent. As an American Indian with Sappony, Cherokee, and Lumbee lineage, she faced racial discrimination throughout much of her life. Her childhood showed her the importance of raising awareness about American Indians, especially in her home state. She served on the boards of a number of cultural organizations and has won several awards for her work.

Brooker was the first American Indian graduate of Meredith College. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education, taught school, and went on to work for the North Carolina state government, including the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, and public and private sector organizations. She also received certification as a lay minister from the United Methodist Church.

Brooker and her husband, Jim, live near Asheville, North Carolina, with their dog, Mercy. They enjoy spending time with their daughters, Lora and Lindsey, and their families.