An American Story: The Visible Vibrant Legacy of the Miller Family

About the Book

Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains lived an American family— the David and Lizzie Miller family. This book is a story about the Miller’s, and the seven African American communities in Cocke County, Tennessee. It’s a book about a community of people oft en invisible or overlooked in historical accounts. However, this family and these seven communities were vibrantly visible. The story and a collection of photos document an everyday American experience and the values that fueled a people. These values –oft en not attributed to them--give meaning to a collective vision of America and a way of life that embraced: nurture of family, love of God, education of children, the building of community, and a dedication to earning a living through hard work and entrepreneurial endeavors.

About the Author

MARY A. EDMOND, a historian, educator, and author was educated in the segregated Rosenwald schools of Cocke County, Tennessee. She went on to become a Fulbright Scholar to West Africa, the Governor’s appointed chair of the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission, and the 2010 Giants of Giants Awards recipient in Grand Rapids Michigan. She holds a BA from Knoxville College, MS from Western Michigan University, and ABD from Wayne State University. Among Mary’s numerous authored works are the exhibit 150 years of African American presence in Kent County; Anti-bias in Instructional Materials; and Connecting with the Learning: An Equity Toolkit.

CO- AUTHOR, CHANÁ EDMOND- VERLEY believes in the wisdom of community, and power of stories. Officially a senior program officer with a local foundation, Edmond-Verley is known as an innovative strategist, and passionate change-maker. A 25 year veteran in systems change and author of several publications including Connecting with the Learning: An Equity Toolkit, Chana’s impact work in education has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR) and in Education Week. Chana holds a BA in Economics from Spelman College, and a MS in Information Systems Management from Grand Valley State University.