Ebony & Ivory

This is a portion of a review of this book submitted by a professional literary review organization: Ebony and Ivory, written by Larry Krevat, is the story of how a poor, black, single woman in South Carolina claws her way from rags to riches in this sprawling debut saga of upward mobility. Alice occupies the lowest rung on America's social ladder, the daughter of a black woman and a white land owner in segregated South Carolina. She is a 25-year-old mother of five, abandoned by her husband. As Alice strives to get ahead, Krevat's novel paints a richly textured portrait of life in the rural south as the civil rights movement slowly thaws institutionalized bigotry with African-American's struggling for a toehold in a society marked by inter-racial tension and violence but also tacit accommodation. Eventually, Alice seeks greener pastures in New York City, leaving her children behind with her mother. In the City, she finds less overt discrimination, but plenty of other risks. She works as a barmaid in various watering holes, including one that doubles as a mafia hangout. Along the way, she fends off several sexual assaults and weathers a gangland shooting. This is a very compelling story with an appealing heroine. It is a must read to find out how Alice, with her ability, is able to overcome adversity, get revenge on her adversaries, and become a successful economic survivor.