Eric Christianson Shares Powerful True Story Of Interracial Friendship In “South Bend To Spring Valley”

Eric Christianson’s debut book, South Bend to Spring Valley: The Davids-Sims Story, offers a compelling non-fiction narrative rooted in personal history and preserved correspondence. Drawing from a diverse professional background that includes tutoring, teaching, DJing, tour guiding, and acting, Christianson brings a thoughtful and empathetic voice to this story. The project began as a deeply personal labor of love, undertaken to fulfill the parting desire of his late wife, who always dreamed of sharing this important story.

“This book was born from a promise,” Christianson explains. “My wife experienced these events as a child, and they profoundly impacted her, so much so that she swore that one day, she’d write a book about them, as her mother kept a scrapbook filled with correspondence and news articles. Sadly, she became gravely ill and was unable to complete her journey. Before she passed, she asked me to finish what she started… so I did. This is her legacy—a tribute to an amazing person—and an equally amazing story of incredible, interracial camaraderie. Becoming a best-selling author was not my goal; I wrote this book because it was my wife’s dream and her dying wish.”

The narrative primarily consists of preserved letters exchanged between the two families, enriched with Christianson’s commentary and contextual insights drawn from period publications and news accounts. Presented in chronological order, the book situates the families’ story within the broader backdrop of the 1960s civil rights struggles, referencing events such as the Little Rock Crisis and the Birmingham protests. Christianson illustrates how the families maintained their friendship despite external pressures, including hate mail and death threats, exemplifying resilience and conviction.

While not a comprehensive historical analysis, the book offers a focused and intimate account of this unique friendship, ensuring that details at risk of being lost to time are preserved for future generations. Christianson’s motivation was rooted in honoring a family legacy rather than seeking public recognition as an author.

A recent article in the Rochester Post-Bulletin features an interview with Christianson, providing additional background and highlighting Mrs. Davids’ role in fostering this enduring fellowship. This contemporary piece serves to illuminate the significance of the story and its relevance today. It can be accessed at Post-Bulletin.

South Bend to Spring Valley: The Davids-Sims Story is available for purchase on Amazon and through a variety of online booksellers. Further information about the book and the story behind it can be found at SouthBendToSpringValley.com.