Relocating from Brooklyn to Texas, was a huge difference between how things work from the north to the south in every way. Working in the prison system, she found out that being blue pays the bills but it's hard to be black and blue at the same time. In this male dominating field, working in Juvenile Detention, Texas Women's Death Row and then at two county jails...she got to see that the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Working in these environments where some of the most bizarre things can happen from one day to the next would be enough to break you if you're not strong. But if there's one thing you can count on, it's the fact that women are heinous, and men are brutal. Whether they are serving 30 years, 80 years or given the death penalty, no one can be trusted, sometimes not even your coworkers. Some of them end up trading in their work uniforms for inmate uniforms, especially when they began to commit crimes themselves. No secret was safe, so she had to watch her back in this page turner. The cover of this book is an exact depiction of 24 years in law enforcement as she watched people put up a brick wall to stop her success, progress and growth. Obstacles were always in her way of being seen as equal. Watching the thin blue line, get lighter and lighter...at times the line would unravel and reveal the dark and malicious truth of hate, ignorance and defiance. Respect wasn't earned, for a black woman in uniform, it was demanded and then forced. In order to move up to the rank of Sergeant and then to Lieutenant, she had to close her eyes to the chaos in the world happening all around her. Don't discuss it, don't bring your personal feelings and opinions to work. THEY can, but SHE better not! Not even the issues right in front of her face. Say nothing and turn your head to blatant discrimination, abuse of power and mistreatment. For decades, politics and religion were the two things that were never discussed in a work environment, but a few years ago, it was pretty evident that she was openly outnumbered. To survive in her position, she had to play the game. Forget who she was and where she came from, say yes to whatever they said and play nice. Cross lines, violate policies, human and civil rights and keep doing it until she was numb to it, or things will be difficult for her. Promotions withheld, opportunities hidden, positions unavailable and what exactly could she do about it? Everything! Be true to herself!! Keep her fist held up! Fight back! Make noise, say something! Do something! Don't come to work to make friends, come to make your coins and walk away with your dignity and your legacy! When the lawsuit came, the first offer of hush money was $10,000 and then $15,000... It didn't take long to guess they would want her to sign a non-disclosure, and she would NEVER do that! She caught on to their plot and said No Deal! They didn't have enough money to buy her silence! Declining that chump change allowed her the freedom of speech she was entitled to...and that made her The Blackest Blue!
