A Rare Vintage Growing Up Black in Wine Country

Lee Pierce's debut book takes you from the vineyards and
prune orchards of beautiful Napa County, California, to a history making seat on the dais of Santa Rosa, California's governing body. Santa Rosa is the largest city between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.
Following his graduation from St. Helena High School, Lee, along with a couple other classmates from high school, were called to duty by the U.S. Army to be sent to the raging Viet Nam war. The "element of surprise" revealed itself as a series of events that would unfold and change the trajectory of his life. As Lee's story continues to unfold, you will note that the journey is ripe with an array of memorable and colorful characters who come to life on these pages. Pierce's story is a series of poignant moments and cultural revelations that will entertain, sometimes sadden, and in the end, inspire you.

Lee Pierce was born and raised in St. Helena, California, where his
mother worked as a domestic and his father as a skilled laborer in the nearby vineyards, driving trucks and tractors. His family had migrated from the rural South and was one of the very few Black families in the Napa Valley. His family life was in sharp contrast to the life in which he found himself navigating while in school, also, in the part-time jobs he held to earn extra cash in his teen years. "I learned early to do my best to assimilate in any environment and make people feel more comfortable with me." This book is Lee's first literary effort having been told time and time again over the years that he had an amazing story to tell. Lee currently lives in Sonoma County, California with his wife of nearly 30 years. He enjoys his time with family and friends and enjoys decompressing himself at his local health club as often as possible.