by Harry R. Roegner

A lot has been written recently about the Bernard Baruch estate, 'Hobcaw,' located on the coast of South Carolina and a center for the state's Gullah culture. A living source for many of the stories written about 'Hobcaw' in the twentieth century has been Minnie Kennedy - the daughter of the Baruch family cook Daisy and the family's key duck guide and jack of all trades, William. But, beyond he contributions to our understanding of Hobcaw, Minnie Kennedy had an amazing life of her own, coming out of a one room school house on the estate to become one of the nation's pioneers in the theory and practice of pre-school education. This book is the story of Minnie's climb, in the face of racism and doctrinaire attitudes, to become a leading force in 'headstart' and teaching teachers how to teach. He abiding faith in our common humanity guided her through a tumultuous life and to the attainment of her lifelong goal of being a true educator. He life story is a mirror of the evolution of civil rights and concern for children in our society.