The Downstairs Girl

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This story is told by Jo Kuan, a 17-year-old Chinese American girl, living in Atlanta during the 1890s when the laws enacted were extremely cruel to all minorities.

 

Jo is homeless, because she was abandoned by her parents at a young age. For years she, along with her uncle Old Gin, lived as a squatter in a secret basement apartment underneath the Bell family home. The Bell family, who owned the local newspaper, had no idea that they are living below their home. One night, Jo overhears the Bell’s talking about the newspaper losing money due to the low number of subscriptions and that they may be in danger of losing their home. Jo has an idea that may save the newspaper.

 

She worked as a lady’s maid during day and at night was secretly writing an advice column under the pseudonym “Dear Miss Sweetie” which she anonymously submitted to the Bell’s newspaper. When her column starts to become popular, she begins using it to address social issues by writing on everything from gender equality to segregation. Jo’s challenging of the racial and gender norms of the time also increased the risk of her secret identity as “Miss Sweetie” being revealed.

 

As the story unfolds, Jo’s secret identity starts to become increasingly more in danger as she finds herself entangled in the lives of the people around her. Jo’s experiences and continued willingness to inspire change, leads her to finding her own identity in a deeply segregated society.

 

The Downstairs Girl story is symbolic of how the power of one person’s voice, in this case words, can make a difference in a society unwilling to accept that person as they are.