WheninterviewedbytheCharlottesville,Virginia,RidgeStreetOralHistoryProject,whichdocumentedthelivesofBlackresidentsinthe1990s,MableJonesdescribedherselfasachildren’snurse,recountingheremploymentinNewYorkCityinthe1940sand1950s.EmilyAbelandMargaretNelson,whosemotheremployedJones,usetheinterviewandtheirownchildhoodmemoriesasastartingpointinpiecingtogetherJones’slifeinanefforttoinvestigatetheimpactofstructuralracism,andadiscriminatorysystemtheirfamilyhelpeduphold.Thebookissituatedinthreedifferentsettings--thepoorruralSouth,Charlottesville,andtheaffluentsuburbofLarchmont,NewYork--allplacesthatMableJoneslivedandworked.MableJoneswasemblematicofherrace,gender,time,andplace.LikemanyAfricanAmericansbornaround1900,shelivedfirstinaruralcommunitybeforemovingtoacity.Shehadtoleaveschoolaftertheeighthgradeandworkeduntilayearbeforeherdeath.AndheroccupationwasthatheldbythemajorityofAfricanAmericanwomenthroughthetwentiethcentury.Reflectingonherlife,localcivilrightsleaderEugeneWilliamsaskedtheauthorstodocumentthe“segregationinCharlottesvillethatMrs.Jonesendured.“Thisbookhonorshischargebyhighlightingthelimitedchoicesavailabletoher.ItdocumentstheslowprogressofchangeformanyAfricanAmericansintheSouth,exploresthestilllittle-knownexperiencesofBlackhouseholdworkersinthesuburbanNorth,andreconstructsthetexturedlivesthatMableJonesandthemanywomenlikeherneverthelesscarvedoutinasystemthatwasandcontinuestobestackedagainstthem.
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