when my mother passed away a few weeks ago, i found this letter among her belongings, hidden away. it s the last letter that my grandmother ever wrote to her. when was your grandmother murdered? 1939. her name was sadie douglas. came from virginia. moved north to find work in the 30s. i don t know much more than that. your mom didn t talk aut her? she was only ten years old when sadie was killed. and she never really forgave her for what she was. which was what? the police called her a common two-bit hooker. my mother referred to her as a white man s whore. it was hard for her, knowowing that that s where she came from. how about you? maybe it s affected me somewhat, too. valens: these letters you have are from 1939? sadie wrote one to her every week. look, i know i m asking a lot, but sadie mentioned someone, here. he best not hurt me. that milkman best not hurt your mama. what milkman? i don t know. she never referred to him in her other letters. back then, the police sa