'Belonging' examines life in Confederate South

Continuing a creative nonfiction narrative started in her first book, "All Bones Be White," author Judith Y. Shearer teams up with Derek B. Hankerson to profile the life of G.A. Henry. Their book, "Belonging: The Civil War's South We Never Knew" (published by Archway Publishing), examines the motivations of a man caught in the midst of the Civil War. Hankerson is launching a marketing campaign to expand the book's reach.

Shearer, whose family owned slaves, and Hankerson, who is a descendant of slaves on his father's maternal side, asks why Henry, who defended in court a slave accused of killing a white woman, would fight for the Confederacy just years later. Together, the authors piece together history with creative prose to tell a story often left out of history books. Shearer utilized Henry family letters and a family book to research the true nature of their subject. The authors also discuss why some black and mulatto men fought for the South, how DNA testing is uncovering new information about this era and what black life was like in the South before the Civil War.

The authors feel their topic is even more poignant with recent controversy over the flying of the Confederate flag. They hope readers will leave their book with a greater understanding of the Civil War and the South. This perspective, they believe will offer greater insight into the current state of race relations in America.

"Belonging: The Civil War's South We Never Knew"
By Judith Y. Shearer & Derek B. Hankerson
Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 148 pages | ISBN 9781480820012
Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 148 pages | ISBN 9781480820005
E-Book | 148 pages | ISBN 9781480820029
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
Judith Shearer earned a master of fine arts in writing from Spalding University. She taught part time as adjunct faculty in the English and Philosophy Department at Murray State University and worked full time in the Department of Art & Design. She published essays and short stories. "Belonging" is her second book. Prior to Shearer's death years ago, Hankerson promised he'd find a way to produce a film of the book.

Derek Hankerson held three "Presidential Appointments" in Washington, D.C., dating back to his early 20s. He is a direct Gullah Geechee descendent; after discovering he had 12 family members who fought for the Confederacy and finding it interesting, enlightening and inspiring he wanted to tell the story. He earned his master's in management and leadership from Webster University, studied communications at Bowie State and graduated with a bachelor's in political science from the University of Maryland. He is a faculty member at the University of North Florida where he lectures in history, leadership, communications and politics. Following Shearer's death, Hankerson acquired a new film partner, Sheri Piper-Henry whose children are descendents of the Patrick Henry clan out of Scotland. Piper-Henry is a program director and faculty member at Lake Superior College in Duluth Minnesota.

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