A book launch celebration was recently held for Laura Rabb Morgan, EdD., a longtime resident and community activist of South Shore/South Chicago, to celebrate the release of her first book at the South Shore Cultural Center.
Morgan’s newly released book, “The Hope Train: I Was Not Supposed to Be Here” is a moving exploration of life lived in faith and hope for the future.
Morgan shares, “Even though I can’t hear the trains every day like I did when I was growing up, I still live across the train tracks. When I was growing up, you had to cross the train tracks to get to my house; and even now in my twilight years, you have to cross the train tracks to get to my house. However, I never thought of living across the tracks as a negative thing like it is in the movies. I am sure it is because negativity was not a part of my life growing up. We were never harshly beaten or yelled at for the littlest thing like some children. We realized we were poor, but that didn’t define us because we were surrounded by love in our own home and in our community.
“We lived in a church community dedicated to educating children and working hard. No, we weren’t overly praised either. We didn’t get anything for good grades or for our birthdays. Yes, we were hungry sometimes, but we never starved because we trusted our parents to provide for us, and they always did. Simple peanut butter and cracker sandwiches could make eight little children on Crichton Hill in Minden, Louisiana, smile as if they didn’t have a care in the world—because to them, they didn’t.
“What we always had was hope. It was this realization that gave me the impetus to call my memoir The Hope Train. Hope because of all the prayers my mom sent to heaven on her kids’ behalf and the trains that passed by each day—and even provided passage for me as I was the first in my family to go to college, and the seven other Rabb children would board the train also.”
Dr. Laura Morgan is an active senior, who has lived in the South Shore/South Chicago area for over 50 years. She is a former college professor/administrator at Kennedy-King College and Triton College. She shares her life story in the hopes that it will be an encouragement to others to never give up and to rely on their faith in God. Even though the community she currently lives in has changed over the years, she will never give up on helping the children in her community strive for a better life as they ride the hope train.
Published by Christian Faith Publishing, the book captures a sense of love and hope within a family fighting against the societal norms that would restrict. Morgan’s thoughtful and articulate discussion of her life offers readers a compelling tale of determination and faith. Consumers can purchase “The Hope Train: I Was Not Supposed to Be Here” at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or inquiries about “The Hope Train: I Was Not Supposed to Be Here,” contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., is the Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Crusader. She is a National Newspaper Publishers Association ‘Entertainment Writing’ award winner, contributor to “Rust Belt Chicago” and the author of “Old School Adventures from Englewood: South Side of Chicago.” For info, Old School Adventures from Englewood—South Side of Chicago (lulu.com) or email: [email protected].
