A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom

“‘WELCOME TO GREENVILLE: THE BLACKEST LAND AND THE WHITEST PEOPLE.’ While some would claim that ‘the whitest people’ referred to the moral purity of Greenville’s citizens, Black folks from inside and outside the town knew the truth.”

The welcome sign to this rural Texas town, where Barnett’s mother grew up, provides insight into the legacy of racism. On every level, Black citizens were treated differently than white citizens. The racism inherent in the criminal justice system is but one part of a comprehensive system.

“In our family, as in much of the South, Black love was Black wealth.”

Given the legacy of racism, Black Americans in the South suffered disproportionate economic hardship. However, the strength to endure and prosper came from the enveloping and loving support of both family and the community. Barnett repeatedly emphasizes the importance of this love and support in her myriad achievements.

“I’m not going to reward you for doing what you are supposed to do, Big Girl. You are smart. Straight A’s—that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

When Barnett told her paternal grandfather Daddy Sudie that her friend got money for her A grades, he responded kindly but firmly with this answer. Barnett recalls this response years later and cites it to highlight the importance of her family in shaping her sense of responsibility and success. This advice complements the book’s message that we work not just for material rewards but because we are using our talents to improve the world.