Author’s book details life growing up black in Tri-State

When Traci Rapier was young, a close family member — a black man — was shot and killed by a white woman.

Rapier recalls hearing adults say there would be no justice because of the color of the man's skin. People would say, "she's not going to get no time because she's a white woman."

This is just one of many personal stories recounted in Rapier's book "My Life as Traci."

The local author had a meet and greet Thursday at the Henderson County Public Library as part of a series of events commemorating Black History Month.

Only a handful of community members turned out to show their support, but Rapier said there is a waitlist at the library to read her book.

Rapier's autobiographical novel maps the many adversities she faced growing up in Kentucky and Illinois, such as racism, familial issues, death and AIDS.

For Rapier, growing up black in Kentucky in the 1970s and '80s was no picnic.

"I felt like in school, sometimes, things were catered toward whites more than black students," she said.

Most school-related activities were things only white students would enjoy, Rapier said.

"It felt really, really frustrating dealing with that. Even being nominated for different things in the school, they catered more to whites. The white (candidate) would get it more than the black," she said.

Rapier lived in Waverly, Kentucky, until she was 5. Eventually, she moved to Illinois to live with her father and stepmother, with whom she had a rocky relationship.

"My Life as Traci" details how Rapier's stepmother would lie to her father and school officials about Rapier's behavior saying that her stepdaughter "caused problems."

One time, a teacher noticed Rapier staying after school to work on homework instead of going home. Rapier explained she didn't go home because her stepsister was actually the one who "caused problems," she said, so the teacher suggested she try out for the play.

Rapier got the part, but said her stepmother paid someone on the cast to sabotage her.

"This (book) is about before I gave my life to the Lord," Rapier said.

The author said she feels in her heart that God wanted her to write the book to help others.

"I hope it'll touch others and inspire them and they'll see the many different things that I went through in my life," she said. "(I hope) that it inspires them not to give up hope, and to stay strong, and that things will come up for them if they hang in there."

Rapier self-published her book, a process that took around four years and said she hopes to continue writing children's book and novels.

To purchase her book, people can visit mylifeastraci.com

Rapier said circumstances are slowly getting better for black citizens in Kentucky.

"They had this event here for me," she said. "I think (Henderson) is opening up more, trying to do more for the blacks in town."