Breaking In: The Author of a New Era

by Wayne D. Casey, Kate Stephenson (Editor)

In the summer before his freshman year, Wayne Casey could think
of nothing but joining the elite rank of athletes at Byrd Prillerman
High School. The all-black school was the alma mater of his seven older siblings, and Wayne in the family tradition planned to be the eighth Casey to walk the halls of Byrd High. But something happened.

Over 55 years later, still no one can explain or understand how it
happened.

Jim Crow was still king, even if his legal status had been officially revoked. Everyone simply knew the rules.

No niggers allowed.

The Supreme Court had ruled two years earlier that segragation in
the schools was unlawful and unconstitutional. The order was to desegregate. But no stipulation had been made as to when. The Superintendent of Schools in Raleigh County, West Virginia encouraged his schools to ease into integration with due caution and a lack of haste.

But Wayne Casey wondered why everyone seemed to be dragging
their feet. So he used his to do what no other black child had ever done in Raleigh County, West Virginia before. He broke the color line.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2013

Reviews

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayne Casey’s historical novel is truly a fascinating novel to read. His book, Breaking In, gives readers an insider’s sense of what really happened, how and why. I found his novel unique. He actually experienced the segregation of blacks and whites in schools. He was the first one in his family to break the segregation. He attended an all-white school and succeeded with every new step he took on. Breaking In is an inspiring novel for those who lived and went through the terrible segregation occurring within schools and everywhere else. His book took place during a time when the government ruled that segregation was unequal and the every slow wait for segregation of blacks and white to end. This book is a must read and details the author’s own experience during these hard times. I would recommend others to read Wayne Casey’s book. I rate his novel a 5 out of 5 stars!


Danielle Urban
AAMBC Reviewer

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book and others like it are important for many reasons.

To start, as a firsthand account of events of historical significance. Many people (I’d like to think most) are aware of the big names in the struggle for equality that took place in the 50s and 60s. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and Medgar Evers come to mind. But how many have heard of Wayne Casey? It’s important to realize that there were numerous people who took a stand that weren’t as prominent as King or didn’t get the same attention from the press as Parks, but still did their part in ways large and small.

Then there’s that whole understanding history lest it repeat itself thing. Younger generations were born into a different world than Casey. Understanding his experience not only illustrates what progress has been made, but might also illuminate where more change is needed, not just for those of minority races, but for any group that is discriminated against for being different.

Last, it’s a good story for anyone interested in understanding what it was like to grow up in a different time or place.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **