Jodie Mae

Jodie Mae Phelps was born on the wrong side of the tracks in forties Mississippi, less than “naught” in the culture of the times and destined to stay that way. Poor white trash to be used and abused by the upper classes in a society where the only rights a poor woman had were to serve a man’s needs without complaints. Not even the other poor people of her town wanted "her kind" around, and enlist the aid of the KKK to get rid of them. But Jodie was born with a determination to be more. To escape the almost certain "tonkin' around" future of her mother, Lizzy Phelps, she marries Elmore Jackson, the owner of a clothing store which caters to poor whites and "nigras." As Elmore becomes more and more abusive, both the son of a prominent Trace Avenue family and a representative of a NY clothing manufacturer vie for her attention. After Elmore dies, the children try to kick her out of the store and its second floor apartment. Lizzy Phelps created many enemies who don't mind taking their revenge against Jodie. Desperate to "be somebody" — to live as an equal, not second class — Jodie decides to take on the male-dominated upper class and run for Sheriff. She has the support of the county "boxes" but not those controlled by the Trace Avenue bunch. To have a chance to win, she must wrest control of the Queensboro box in the black ghetto from Pick Mason, an ex-boxer who is paid by the group seeking to have the existing sheriff re-elected. Eventually, her determination brings her a head-on confrontation with the male dominated culture of 40s & 50s Mississippi. Jodie May’s resolve remains steadfast as she perseveres, despite nearly losing her life in the process.