Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was born on June 3, 1906 in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Her name is Josephine McDonald and does not yet suspect that her life will be a real rodeo.
Raised by her mother, Carrie, daughter and granddaughter of slaves, she will never know her father.
From the start, we call her "Tumpie".
In Saint Louis, it is not Versailles.
Tumpie lives in a slum, which doesn't stop him from being as cheerful as a chaffinch.
She has a quirk: she dances.
At home, in the street, her rubber legs swing.
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When she was 7, her stepfather, Arthur, lost his job.
Mom Carrie doesn't make ends meet and entrusts her daughter to an awkward old white lady.
As a reward, the cowhide invites him to sleep on the floor with the dog and the fleas.
One day, while she was doing the dishes, she pointed out to him that a negress should not use hot water.
To teach him good manners, she plunges his hands in boiling water.
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