A message from Sammy’s Mom Kim
 
From:  samsmomkim@yahoo.com
To: hk.edgerton@gmail.com
 
Hi, HK!  We missed you at the Lee-Jackson dinner in Knoxville.  It was pleasant as always, but not the same without you!
 
I’m writing to you for your opinion on an incident with Anderson County Schools.  Yes, Sammy attends the same district as Tommy DeFoe.  To start with, the SamDavis647 Chapter of Children of Confederacy agreed to purchase and donate the book:  Jim Limber Davis A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House by Ricky Pittman.  Each child member was given 2-4 books to donate to local schools and public libraries.  Additionally, the book donation was in honor of Black History month.
 
Sammy asked for 3 books.  He donated one book to the Norris Public Library where the book was graciously accepted.  He wanted to donate the other books to his past elementary school(Andersonville) and Norris Elementary school.  I called Andersonville Elementary School to set up an appointment for Sammy to personally donate the book and allow me to take a picture to put in our local Newspaper.  The Secretary asked the Principal and she instructed me to call Anderson County School Board for approval.  Uh-oh, here we go!!
 
I had to speak with Chuck Puglisi, Director of Instruction.  I made an appointment with him to show him the book.  He asked me to leave it so he could read it.  I wanted this donation completed during the month of February, since that is Black History month.  Mr. Puglisi put me off for more than a week because he wanted someone else on the board to read it.  He finally called me back to let me know they cannot accept the book.  Of course, I asked for the reason.  He said the cover states it does not deviate from the historical facts.  He said, according to Elizabeth Bogume (I’m not sure who she is), the last part of the book that said Jim was captured by Captain Hudson and was displayed to show how President Davis abused the child was not correct.  He said the "facts" are Gen. Saxton obtained the child and gave him a good life.  Mr. Puglisi said this book could give children the "high potential to become confused".  I thanked him for reading it and left on a positive note.
 
Have you read the book?  What do you think?
 
Do you recommend any books for me to read about that period and the black race?  I need to educate myself in that direction. 
 
Thank you!  Hugs!
 
Kim Stooksbury Haase