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One Night In Georgia by Celeste O. Norfleet 
Published by Amistad on June 18, 2019
Set in the summer of 1968, a provocative and devastating novel of individual lives caught in the grips of violent history—a timely and poignant story that reverberates with the power of Alice Walker’s Meridian and Ntozake Shange’s Betsey Browne.
At the end of a sweltering summer shaped by the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, race riots, political protests, and the birth of Black power, three coeds from New York City—Zelda Livingston, Veronica Cook, and Daphne Brooks—pack into Veronica’s new Ford Fairlane convertible, bound for Atlanta and their last year at Spelman College. It is the beginning a journey that will change their lives irrevocably.
Unlikely friends from vastly different backgrounds, the trio has been inseparable since freshman year. Zelda, serious and unyielding, the heir of rebellious slaves and freedom riders, sees the world in black versus white. Veronica, the privileged daughter of a refined, wealthy family, strongly believes in integration and racial uplift. Daphne lives with a legacy of loss—when she was five years old, her black mother committed suicide and her white father abandoned her.
Because they will be going their separate ways after graduation, Zelda, Veronica, and Daphne intend to make lasting memories on this special trip. Though they are young and carefree, they aren’t foolish. Joined by Veronica’s family friend Daniel, they rely on the Motorist Green Book to find racially friendly locations for gas, rest, and food. Still, with the sun on their cheeks, the wind in their hair, and Motown on the radio, the girls revel in their freedom. Yet as the miles fly by, taking them closer to the Mason-Dixon line, tension begins to rise and the conversation turns serious when Daphne shares a horrifying secret about her life.
When they hit Washington, D.C., the joyous trip turns dark. In Virginia they barely escape a desperate situation when prison guards mistake Daniel for an escapee. Further south they barely make it through a sundown town. When the car breaks down in Georgia they are caught up in a racially hostile situation that leaves a white person dead and one of the girls holding the gun.
Zelda Livingston’s father was a prominent civil rights leader that was gunned down by police, and she is still coming to grips with his untimely death. But her mom seemed to move on with her life when she began dating Darnell soon after Zelda’s father passing. The tension is so thick between Zelda & her stepfather, Darnell you can cut it with a knife.
So when Zelda’s friends, Veronica Cook & Daphne Brooks invites her on a road trip back to Spelman College, it doesn’t take Zelda long to make up her mind. The young ladies are looking forward to starting their senior year at Spelman, so this road trip will be a special time for them to bond.
The three friends embark on an unforgettable road trip through the ugly roads of racism that ultimately ends with someone committing murder.
At first glance, I fell in love with the cover for One Night in Georgia. When I read the synopsis (something I rarely do these days), I felt a jolt in my system because I knew what events took place during those times. Part of me wasn’t sure if I was in the mood to read anything that had to do with race relations. However, the cover kept speaking to me, so I decided to peek at a few pages.
Once I started, I couldn’t put the book down. Author Celeste O. Norfleet did an exceptional job with this story. Her writing transported me back to those times where a copy of The Motorist Green Book was necessary if you wanted to travel while black. Even though this story took place in 1968, readers will be able to relate because of the events we are witnessing in our present times. I have to admit there were a few times I had to pause and take a deep breath because I couldn’t imagine how I would react if someone told me I couldn’t use the bathroom because I was black. But events like this took place in the United States of America.
I appreciate how Author Celeste O. Norfleet balanced the book out with giving readers a love story that left my heart reminiscing on the innocence of first love. I found my heart aching for the love that could have been between the two characters.
One Night in Georgia is on my list of Favorite Reads of 2019.
I highly recommend this book!!
Reviewed by: Orsayor
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Question: Your Most Memorable Road Trip? Where did you go?
About Celeste O. Norfleet
Celeste O. Norfleet is a nationally bestselling author of more than twenty critically acclaimed commercial fiction novels. She is the recipient of six awards from Romance Slam Jam (RSJ), as well as a lifetime achievement award. She was also honored with the BRAB, 2016 Frances Ray Lifetime Literary Legacy Award. She is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design. She lives in Virginia.
Our immediate family drive from Kankakee, Il to Tampa for our family reunion. I decided then that 1) I wouldn’t go on a long trip like that with my family and
2) I’d better get used to flying if I wanted to travel more
My favorite road trip was when I was younger every summer we used to go visit my Aunt in Alexandria. I’m a country girl so going to the city every summer was such as exciting experience.
My most memorable trip was with Joyleen Jossel! We drove for what seemed like hours for a book signing. I remember smoking a joint in the bathroom when they went to the bar! The best trip ever!😂
As a military spouse my favorite road trip is traveling home. I get excited like a kid on Christmas day when I hit the Georgia line.
My memorable road trip was when I was younger, when school ended we would go up to spend the summer with my Aunt in Alexandria. I always look forward to going to the city because I’m a country girl. My aunt would braid my hair and put beads in it.
Me and my girls headed down to Virginia Beach for black biker weekend. We were 20 and broke. We met guys and got every meal paid for. We all slept in the same bed because we could only afford one motel room.
We had a freaking ball!
I loved all of my childhood road trips. My parents would stop at the historical spots on the way to wherever we were going. My mother always fried chicken and we had snacks and drinks in the cooler. I know know it was free historical stops and snacks from home because we didn’t have money to waste on buying food along the way. We all had our bag full of books, coloring books and puzzle books to entertain us. I loved that my parents made traveling with our family of six fun without us knowing we were on a serious budget!
Not sure if this is still active but I traveled all over the USA as a child.