There’s a way for History to be revisited through the words of our ancestors. The narrator, Polly, is 100 years old and has lived through many of life’s hardships. She was born as a slave and has experienced the trials and tribulations of the Civil War. With the North’s victory, freedom is hers to live as an equal to the whites. As Polly enjoys her new-found freedom she meets the love of her life, Sam Tademy. Sam and his two sons quickly earn a place in her heart.

For these former slaves, living in Colfax, Louisiana in 1873 as free people, it was a time of great tension. The black population opposed the new Sheriff. They placed their faith in Congress who had promised them military support to help resolve the matter. In an effort to come to terms with one another, the white Democrats of Montgomery and the colored and white Republicans meet in neutral territory, the area courthouse. The meeting quickly gets out of control as a white kills a colored man. This senseless death sets into motion a chain of actions that would go down in history as one of the bloodiest massacres. In one of the darkest historical events to ever occur a total of 100 blacks lost their lives in this riot.

Red River gives an up-close and personal look into the past and how one family survived one of the bloodiest events to ever be recorded by history. Red River is the type of book that gives you an appreciation for the life you currently live. Lalita Tademy is an author who knows how to open her readers’ eyes and see the world at a different angle. Very highly recommended.