The Sinner in Mississippi

I was born in a rundown house in a small parish outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during one of the worst storms on record. It rained so much the banks of the Mississippi overflowed. For most families, bringing a new life into the world should be a time of great celebration. But giving birth to a girl was not a joyful occasion in my home.

My condition was fragile because I had come more than a month early. Mama never said, but I suspected her injuries and premature labor were the result of ...