Things Get Rearranged

As a child, Janet Parsons Mackey witnessed her grandfather's passion for progressive politics, civil rights, and the Russian Revolution. Lively debates on justice and politics were commonplace.

Then came the Red Scare and the oppressive paranoia of the McCarthy era. Silence replaced conversation and discussion for many in her family, distancing them from a grandfather who continued to express his views through meetings, speeches, and newspaper columns. E. Dudley Parsons was never complacent-and never silenced.

Things Get Rearranged represents author Parsons Mackey's attempt to understand her grandfather, his values, and his passion for justice. Personal recollections mix with the man's own writing to form a rich tapestry of his remarkable life.

Through her grandfather, Parsons Mackey first became aware of equal rights for people of color, the need for fair wages, free speech, and open debate. She sees his influence not only in her life but also in those of his great-grandchildren, who retain his interest in politics and Russia.

Join Parsons Mackey as she traces the complex transmission of ideas, values, and traditions through a multigenerational family, restoring her grandfather to his rightful place as a powerful influence on future generations.