Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite

How does a loving home shape a young girl’s outlook in a world divided by race? Can Anything Good Come Out of Jim Crow? is Jacqueline Smith’s memoir about growing up during the era of racial segregation. She grew up in Texas during the 1950s and 1960s alongside siblings with special needs. Much of Jacqueline’s childhood revolved around her family's convenience store and taxi stand. Her mom’s patience helped her resolve an argument or two with a friend. Jacqueline also learned how to treat others with kindness from her mother. Her dad taught her responsibility and the importance of working hard. The story continues into Jacqueline's adult years. She reflects on college, graduate school, marriage, motherhood, and her career in communications. Throughout her life, she faces obstacles that challenge her faith, resilience, and sense of purpose.

Maya Angelou once wrote, "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated." The spirit of those words is in Can Anything Good Come Out of Jim Crow? by Jacqueline Smith. I only knew the textbook version of segregation before reading, and now I feel honored to know about one person’s experiences actually living through it. She didn’t focus only on the difficulties she endured; she shared how those challenges became stepping stones in her adult life. I enjoyed seeing all the photographs scattered throughout. They brought a smile to my face. Her writing was personal and sincere, and made it easy to connect with her. To me, Jacqueline herself is the answer to the question in the title. Her story proves it’s not impossible for something good to come out of adversity, even when she shouldn’t have had to face it in the first place. Anyone looking for an inspiring memoir or book with a darker part of American history will want to pick this one up. One line her father repeatedly said to her that I’m sure will stay with me is: “Know your own worth.”