IOWTH is a coming of age story about 12-year old Raven Brinsfield the summer of 1995. Raven lives a sheltered life in Savannah with her mother (Victoria), grandmother (Constance) and housekeeper (Isabelle). Raven is a mixed-race child. Her father, Charles, is a former UGA star athlete, sportscaster and now restaurant entrepreneur who lives "over the store" in Atlanta. (Think The Rock and Gen. Colin Powell combined.) Orphaned at age 5, he was found on the streets by an Atlanta police officer who raised him.
When Raven's dad invites her to spend her summer with him and her mother agrees, she's both excited and hesitant. Does this mean they'll be reuniting?
Upon her arrival, Raven has an encounter with a homeless woman. She's confused by her father's refusal to allow her to give this woman money because she's been taught that helping people is a privilege and responsibility. He doesn't want "those people" around his business.
When the woman approaches Raven alone and asks for money, Raven makes a fateful decision. Even though she knows it's wrong, she takes money from her father's business and gives it to the woman. Then the woman returns and presses Raven for more money. When Officer Mike interrogates the woman about the missing cash, Raven panics and confesses. Her father, seeing her desperation and determination to help those less fortunate, makes decisions about helping others that change his life and set Raven to her life's purpose.
