Rick Bragg

The author and main character of his autobiography, Rick Bragg is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who, against the odds, rose from a humble birth to a poor family in Piedmont, Alabama to regional correspondent for the New York Times for the Southeastern United States. Bragg was born in 1959 to Charles Bragg and Margaret Bundham Bragg. His older brother, Sam, was born three years earlier and his younger brother, Mark, was born three years later.

Bragg's early childhood was difficult due to his seriously alcoholic father coming in and out of their lives seemingly at random. Charles often beat Margaret and never contributed financially to the family. Consequently, Bragg grew up very poor, with his family relying on help from family members and government welfare. While Bragg grew up poor, he didn't really notice it until high school.

Bragg became fully and totally aware of the disadvantage...