Jacqueline Matte, author of They Say the Wind is Red, had a Letter to the Editor posted in the Birmingham News on October 25, 2006. Matte writes that she is pleased with the paper’s article about Calcedeaver Elementary School as “Gov. Bob Riley’s poster child for Alabama’s Reading Initiative program”; however, she says that the children who attend the school, mostly “poor Native Americans,” should be recognized as part of the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians, a tribe still seeking to be recognized by the federal government. Matte also mentions an opportunity she had to interact with the children at that school and to speak with them about her book. From her letter:
I was invited by Calcedeaver’s librarian to speak to the students during the school’s “Meet an Author” program. I talked with them about my book (their history) They Say the Wind is Red: The Alabama Choctaws Lost in Their Own Land. At the end of my talk, we had a question-and-answer session. It was wonderful and inspiring.
I do not understand why The News did not identify the “poor Native American” students, but perhaps it has to do with politics. Nonetheless, they deserve the positive publicity.
Read the full article at the Birmingham News.
They Say the Wind is Red is available directly from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite local or online book retailer.