Junebug: A Novel

A fictionalized account of Wilson Edward Reed, PhD’s experience growing up Black in the South during the 1950’s and 60’s, Junebug is a middle-grade novel that shows how to move beyond hardships, like those many faced while living under Jim Crow. 

Full of humor and heartache, Junebug depicts a young person’s journey to find self-worth despite American society’s onslaught of negative messaging determined to define one’s identity and future—the kind that can come from any side. The story follows Junebug’s exploits with his friends, the loss of his mother, and his struggles with racial discrimination, before he sets his sights beyond Mississippi. After taking the 2,600 mile bus journey to Seattle, Junebug is encouraged by his three aunts to earn a college degree, all while his spiritual and emotional growth is on display. 

Like the Sankofa bird, Junebug is able to make peace with his past and use that knowledge to move forward as he takes responsibility for his mistakes and forgives those who hurt him. Junebug shows how familial support and community involvement can help motivated individuals rise above anger and discrimination and discover the life of their dreams.

Wilson Edward Reed, PhD was born on a family farm in 1950’s Mississippi, during the height of Jim Crow segregation. As an African American, he lived under the twenty-two laws that restricted miscegenation (racial mixing) and prevented African Americans from participating as full citizens—for over seventy-five years. 

Dr. Reed learned at an early age that he must obey Jim Crow or face punishment. He attended a segregated school, church, movie theater, and a public library, and was able to maintain his dignity by working hard in school and taking small jobs, including picking cotton. After attending Rosa A. Temple High School and Utica Junior College, Wilson Reed moved to Seattle and earned both B.A. and M.A. at the University of Washington. Years later he would earn a M.A. at Suny Albany and finally capped off his academic achievements with a PhD at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona. He taught at over five institutions, including the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, Seattle University, Northern Arizona University, and Texas Christian University over his professional career.

Today, Dr. Reed currently resides outside of Las Vegas, NV. His writing can be found on BlackPast.org, where he’s contributed over ten biographical vignettes, as well as in his first book The Politics of Community Policing. His newest release, Junebug, is a fictionalized account of growing up Black in the South during the 1950’s and 60’s, under Jim Crow.