by Elaine T. Jones (Author)
In 1943 Ed O'Reilly became the mail carrier on Price Road in Leaksville, NC. (Route #1 as it was known for postal addresses). Price Road was primarily a Colored community. Because of his interaction with the people on his route, Ed went through a personal growth in his understanding of America's Black / White relationship. Ed had always accepted life as a White person who lived in the Jim Crow South. He saw racial abuse throughout his community and America without seeing; therefore, Ed, like many other White people similar to him, did not feel any compunction that would require him to do anything.
Ed began a metamorphosis in his thinking; then, he made a conscious effort to make sure that his children learned the life lessons he only came to grasp because of his job . Through the lessons he learned from the 'old folks, ' the 'church ladies, 'and other residents of Price Road Ed discovered: the world of racial understanding opens through the door of communication; we need to talk about IT . Let's talk about it!