Anthony Ray Hinton

Anthony Ray Hinton is the author and main character of The Sun Does Shine. Born and raised in rural Alabama, Hinton (known as Ray) is a positive, kind, hardworking, compassionate man who believes, as his mother taught him, in the good in people and in doing the right thing. Growing up poor and black in the South, Ray experienced the legacy of segregation and racism throughout his childhood and teenage years. His background made his opportunities limited as there was no money for him to go to college. Despite the challenges of racism and economics, Ray always believed in treating people better than they treated him and he trusted and respected authority figures. As the youngest child, Ray has always been very close to his mother and plans to take care of her for the rest of her life.

Everything changed for Ray when he...