Chestnut Hollow Blues: Adventures of an Illegitimate Child

Anita Mae Smith was barely fourteen years old when she gave birth to her son, Raymond, in the late forties in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Raymond’s father was somewhere between ages fifteen and sixteen, and never acknowledged Raymond’s entrance into the world. After he was adopted and his last name changed, little Raymond embarked on a coming-of-age journey on East Chestnut Street where he often faced incredible challenges. In a memoir chronicling his experiences as a young Black man in Pennsylvania, Raymond discloses how his life changed at age fourteen when his adoptive mother suddenly died. As he details how he was set adrift to propel down a rabbit hole of trouble, Raymond provides insights into how he hit the streets and lost his way for a time, only to battle his way back from the depths of despair and bad choices to earn a full athletic scholarship to a four-year college and ultimately three graduate degrees. In this inspiring memoir, a Black man born into a difficult environment reveals how he climbed a mountain of challenges to beat the odds and realize success, happiness, and fulfillment.