On May 25, 1985 Holland graduated with a doctorate in American
studies.
The family home with Holland's mother who used a wheelchair trapped
inside was firebombed. She always believed it was the Ku Klux Klan.
After her mother's funeral a heartsick Holland left the South. She drew
upon experiences there to write a Pulitzer Prize nominated play "From
the Mississippi Delta".
Had been a prostitute until the civil rights movement came to town and
transformed her into a foot soldier. She registered black people to
vote, marched for equality, went to jail 13 times and earned the fury
of some of the town's white residents.