Rainbow Over the Bayou: Jim Crow Through the Eyes of a White Girl

by Linda Lowe Erley

Have you ever looked back on your childhood and realized your world carried so much more than you saw at the time? This is the heart of Rainbow Over the Jim Crow Through the Eyes of a White Girl-a historical fiction inspired by the author's Louisiana upbringing and told through dual timelines of 1960 and the present day. You will be transported to Southern Louisiana, where the tranquil beauty of the bayou contrasts with the horrific injustices of Jim Crow, whose echoes still reverberate today.



In this dark chapter of our nation's history, God's hand brings together two opposite Mimi, a young white girl, and Willa Mae, the beloved Black maid who works for her family. Through the eyes of a child-now remembered by the woman she has become-Mimi realizes there was much she saw, yet did not see.



Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, you'll be drawn into the harsh realities of segregation, yet also witness the strength of faith and the resilience of the human spirit.



This story invites you to wrestle with the echoes of America's past and discover-even amid history's shadows-God's love and light, His redeeming power, and the enduring hope of a more just and reconciled future.

539 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Dawn R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Rainbow Over the Bayou: Jim Crow Through the Eyes of a White Girl, the author paints a vivid picture of life in the South in the 1960’s during the events of the Civil Rights Movement as she shares the story of Mimi, a young white girl, and Willa Mae, her family’s beloved black maid.

Rainbow Over the Bayou took me back to my childhood and the discrimination I also witnessed but did not understand in my own city. I appreciate how the author brought these characters to life and humanized these events most of us have only read about. I encourage you to read this well-written, life-changing book.

[Melissa Jean Rod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been blessed with an advance copy of Rainbow Over The Bayou by Linda Lowe Erley. I can’t recommend it strongly enough! I’m only half way through at this point but I can’t put it down! The writing draws you in, you can smell the scents of the bayou, hear the sounds, feel the love that Mimi has for Willa Mae and Willa Mae for her. It’s a must read!!

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an honor and privilege to be blessed with the opportunity to have early access to read Rainbow Over the Bayou. Within minutes I was drawn into the lives of the characters. Each page is brought to life placing my mind and imagination within the Louisiana landscape. I highly recommend this book! A must read!!!

[Bonnie S McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! The characters are so relatable and the connection between the generations captivating. The author does a terrific job of conveying the message of reconciliation and conversations that build bridges. This message is so needed in our world today. Get ready because you won't be able to put it down.