Author | Educator | Speaker | Screenwriter | Filmmaker | Producer
When people ask me how did these accomplishments
happen? My answer is simple — “by God’s grace!”
Making Do:
Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow
South During the Great Depression
In the midst of the turbulent 1940’s a young black couple find their future goals, livelihoods and destinies meet in an unexpected way, on the streets of Bessemer, Alabama. However, they must first confront the very tangible fears of the Jim Crow south, the Great Depression and their nation poised on the brink of World War II, to realize what they seek. While on this journey, they find that courage will come from the legacy of their families, support of friends and a strong faith in God. This courage allows them to find love by winning a triple victory over fear: abroad, at home and within themselves!
“Callender’s prose is methodic and rich, summoning the language and personality of her characters with aplomb….a well-drawn historical drama…”
Kirkus Reviews
About Josan
I’ve often looked at life as a tapestry of possibilities. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood in Detroit. My friends and I played make-believe games that took us from space travel to the wild West. At the time, I didn’t believe that there would be any limits to what I could achieve, I still live that way.
Most of this spirit came from my parents, Mattie and Joseph Wright. Their faithful adherence to God’s Word was exemplified in their daily lives. They taught us that there was no limit to our futures, as long as we stayed in school and followed God’s teaching. We each had Bible verses that we had to say before every meal. I still remember mine because of that practice!
My passion for education through the use of media had a two-fold beginning. I was inspired by both the top-notch public school teachers I had as a young student and the fascinating stories of my heritage that I heard from my mother.
My love for academics drove me to a more than twenty-seven-year career in many different special education programs. I have taught in the classroom, mentored and served as a program specialist for a large urban school district, and in 2002 earned the highly regarded National Board Certificate.
Story telling appealed to me on a more romantic level. From an early age, this fueled my play time and led to my becoming an avid reader and film buff. These interests led me to co-found Pparallax Films and co-produce ONE DOWN, a 35mm feature film that was the Silver Award Winner at the Worldfest-Charleston International Film Festival. I also became an accomplished writer, becoming a semifinalist in the Walt Disney Studios Fellowship Program, and a finalist in the Independent Feature Project/West’s first writer’s workshop. Later, I won an Audience Choice Award for my co-written submission to the 168 Film Project. These wonderful experiences led me to become a member of the prestigious Writers Guild of America-West.
When people ask me how did these accomplishments happen? My answer is simple — “by God’s grace!”
Josan Wright Callender, graduated from Wayne State University and California State University, Northridge. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and educational administration. Callender, an award-winning writer-producer and author is the co-founder of Matjo International, an educational media and publishing company located in Carlsbad, California. She enjoys spending her mornings writing and the rest of the day relaxing at the beach with her husband, Doug, cooking up keto meals and traveling.
Inspiration
My parents, Mattie and Joseph Wright. Their faithful adherence to God’s Word was exemplified in their daily lives. They taught us that there was no limit to our futures, as long as we stayed in school and followed God’s teaching. We each had Bible verses that we had to say before every meal. I still remember mine because of that practice!
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding
Proverbs 3:13
THE MEANING OF OUR CHAPTER ICON
The winged chapter-heading icon was born from a conversation with Sherry Ward, (president of Square Tree Publishing).
During WWII, the African American servicemen were determined to make WWII a “double victory” over dictatorship abroad and racism on the homefront – in the United States of America.
As we discussed this idea, Sherry gave me some great ideas on how to portray this visually – as a chapter icon.
The idea of an airman’s patch sprang from a conversation about my uncle, Earl King. He was a Tuskegee Airman who trained in the 99th Pursuit Squadron. This was the first, all black flying squadron of World War II. The cover depicts a P-40, one of the planes he flew.
Sherry suggested that I take a look at the WWII patches airmen had sewn on flight jackets. I saw an entire cabinet of these when my husband and I visited the Tuskegee Institute.
The school’s Moton Field, the U.S. Army Air Corps (the Army Air Forces) training field for black airmen, is now a museum. It is a treasure trove on that period of time in our nation’s history!
The characters of Making Do fought and worked toward a “triple victory” in my Tuskegee Tales series:
- Triple “V”s depict the triple victory over fear – abroad, at home and within the hearts of Dee Dee and Charles.
- The “heart” reflects the love they wanted to realize in their lives.
- The “wings” on the icon represents the freedom to achieve this victory – by having faith in God.
