Undeterred KKK Target KKK Witness

The previous year witnessed an election replete with hate speech on both sides of the political aisle. A portion of the most vociferous of the winning party’s backers were members of hate groups. Undeterred is the story of a courageous and battle-weary woman who tangled with the Ku Klux Klan’s minions in Indiana and elsewhere and has come to share her triumphs and tribulations. The author grew up with her grandparents, who were a mixed-race couple. They educated her and raised her while she lived away from her mother. Her early education consisted of challenges at school, having to defend herself physically as well as intellectually. She excelled at both, and her achievement propelled her throughout high school. Her next challenge would be obtaining a scholarship to West Point. Tracey’s work would be noteworthy and would garner attention, some unfortunately in the form of hazing. She would meet a young man named Jayns who would change her life in incalculable ways. Jayns would leave an indelible imprint on her mind, which would alter her perceptions about the world around her. Tracey would go back to Indiana and become a successful sales rep for Pfizer but would encounter strong resistance from the local Klan….They were deceptive, as they didn’t have on hoods, but their hatred was on full display. Subtle intimidation would beget threats of bodily harm, but all the while Tracey pressed on in her work. Her life throughout the 1990s-2000s would be rife with discrimination (based on race and sexuality), but she would push on and move to the next endeavor. Her diagnosis of PTSD would obscure the full picture, while yet also cloaking her from more imminent danger.

This story is not for the faint-hearted individual. There are tough going passages as the author has gone through traumatic and at times horrific ordeals. The narrative is compelling and honest, with a certain amount of soul searching. This autobiography couldn’t be more timely in our current state of affairs. An excellent piece of writing.