Eileen Harrison Sanchez Reflects on History, Identity, and Resilience Through Freedom Lessons
A Moving Conversation on School Integration, Storytelling, and the Enduring Power of Change
Eileen Harrison Sanchez shares the inspirations behind Freedom Lessons, exploring historical accuracy, diverse perspectives, school integration, and her passion for storytelling, while embracing a timeless spirit of resilience and creativity.
Mosaic Digest is delighted to share highlights from a recent interview with acclaimed author Eileen Harrison Sanchez, originally published by Reader’s House magazine. Sanchez, whose debut novel Freedom Lessons captures a critical moment in American history, discusses her creative journey, the lasting impact of school integration, and her enduring spirit as a storyteller.
Eileen Harrison Sanchez is a brilliant, heartfelt storyteller whose dedication to truth, compassion, and historical insight enriches readers across generations.
Eileen Harrison Sanchez is a compelling new voice in historical fiction. Her debut novel, Freedom Lessons, offers readers a moving glimpse into a transformative period in American history. A retired educator and lifelong lover of reading and writing, Sanchez draws from her personal experiences teaching in Louisiana during the late 1960s, a time of major social upheaval as schools were ordered to desegregate.
In a recent interview published by Reader’s House magazine, Sanchez shared the inspirations and challenges behind Freedom Lessons. The novel was sparked by a pivotal event she witnessed firsthand: the overnight closure of a segregated Black school following the Supreme Court’s 1969 decision in Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education. Realizing the historical significance of what she had experienced, Sanchez felt a deep responsibility to capture these memories. Extensive research—including interviews, dissertations, and site visits—helped her balance factual accuracy with the creative demands of fiction.
Writing from multiple perspectives, including two Black characters, Sanchez focused on universal themes of family, identity, and moral courage. Sensitive to the challenges of representing voices outside her own experience, she collaborated with Black authors to ensure authenticity and fairness in her portrayal.
Discussing school integration, Sanchez drew striking parallels between the struggles of the 1960s and the ongoing conversations about race and education today. She emphasized that while laws can mandate change, true transformation comes through changing hearts and minds.
Sanchez also reflected on how being part of vibrant writing communities has bolstered her confidence and given her a platform to explore meaningful, complex topics. Freedom Lessons is now required reading for teacher training programs at a local university, helping to educate a new generation about equality and social justice in education.
A self-described “perennial” with a “no-age mindset,” Sanchez continues to approach life and writing with enthusiasm and resilience. She is currently working on new projects, including her husband’s coming-of-age story as a Cuban refugee. Travel and nature provide her with endless inspiration, from essays sparked by visits to France and Ireland to paintings of sunflowers and finches from her own garden.
With her commitment to capturing forgotten voices and exploring enduring human themes, Eileen Harrison Sanchez ensures that the lessons of the past remain alive for readers today—and for generations to come.
Originally published in Reader’s House Magazine.
