Standing Tall

Standing Tall: Challenges of Faith, Hope, and LoveThis story and/or narrative depicts the life of a young African American couple with twelve children who supported its self by sharecropping and whatever means possible to survive. The contents of this offering is based on the lives of Theodore Hayden, Sr. and Christine Massey Hayden. Beginning in the late eighteen hundreds it spans well into the latter part of the twentieth century. Each chapter describe events or circumstances that had a direct impact upon the making and survival of this family revealing it struggles and triumphs. It paints a loving mother possessing an unwavering faith and tenacity who propelled her family to make remarkable strides in a no win situation. The portrayal of family life and its unselfish rendering of self for the sake of family is uncanny. The family unit is strong and its members accept their responsibilities with pleasure. The opening of the story begins with the birth of John (Theodore) and the familys subsequent escape from slavery. It moves swiftly to the courtship and marriage of John and Sarah and the development of their family consisting of seven boys and five girls. The remaining of the story deals with the familys relationship to itself and varying aspects of other influences that affected the familys life and survival. The story ends with the death of Sarah and the familys struggle to try to begin again. Sarah had given her all to family and without her was unbearable.