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Author Kim Carter-Johnson & Felecia Smith
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Ooohs and ahhhs escaped our mouths as we entered the Red Cat Jazz Café and noticed its genuine New Orleans atmosphere. To our surprise, we were planted in the midst of an authentic Creole 50th Wedding Celebration and the people in attendance resembled many of the characters in the Color-Coded. Adding to our experience even more, we were amazed to hear the music from the celebration and Louisiana parade (they played "When the Saints Go Marching In").
Due to the huge celebration on the main level, our party was escorted to balcony (the VIP Section) and we were in awe as we took in the people and the adornments. Getting caught up in the atmosphere, it was hard to refrain from our eagerness to discuss the book. The author, Kim Carter- Johnson began the discussion by telling us why she was led to write Color -Coded. “The book exposes the unspoken rule of color discrimination that still plagues the African-American communities of the Big Easy and the surrounding parishes. The story also depicts the pain and psychological damage that can occur when color dictates”.
The Batiste Creole family kept the discussion lively as we chatted about the storms that repeatly hit this family, all at the hand of the Lisette Batiste, the matriarch of the family . What 's love got to do with it was saying that the family faced head on? The brown paper bag is what really counted. If you were darker than a brown paper bag, then your color was not light enough for Lisette Batiste and you DEFINITELY could not be a part of her family. She would protect the color genes at any price necessary! EVEN DEATH!
This novel unveiled a dark secret that still haunts Louisiana Bayous, as well as other parts of the country. Color discrimination is prevalent even in Houston, Texas. One of our members shared a story about being called " a high yellow heifer . ”
The second book is a must read to find out what happens to Simone and her grandmother’s obsession. Will Sean get the guts to tell it all? Will Armand ever think outside of the box and be released from his mother's whip? Is Shannon still around? It’s all in book two.
We ended our meeting with the exchanging of gifts. The next book can be found in the next book tab on the site. Merry Christmas!
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