A Lion Doesn't Have to Roar: History/Herstory

By Darryl W. Harris Sr

"A Lion Doesn't Have to Roar" is a intriguing yet uplifting spiritual allegory with elements of murder, romance, adventure, triumph and tragedy centered around two main fictional characters, Christian Walker,(an entertainer) and Savannah St. Claire (political consultant) and are eventually called upon to take on a secret society of humans called "Chiran Jiva" in a classic protagonist/antagonist showdown.

Christian Walker, a musical prodigy in pursuit of fame and riches encounters emotional and sometimes life threatening obstacles along the way that question his religious values as well as his faith.

Savannah St. Clair on the other hand is a political potentate and daughter of a prominent minister and civil rights icon in the deep south. While in pursuit of her life quest she finds herself entangled in situations that are at times antithetical to her parents teaching and upbringing.

How the two team up to take on the bad guys makes for a riveting story line that is sure tug at the readers emotions, passions and sensibilities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943612178

Book preview

A Lion Doesn’t Have To Roar

HIStory/HERstory

A novel by Darryl W. Harris Sr.

Copyright ©2015

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo copying, recording, or by information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from:

Darryl W. Harris Sr.

113 Navajo Trail, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113

Edited by: Vonda (First Editing.com)

ISBN: 978-1-94361-216-1

Acknowledgements

Thank you Lord, for the inspiration to write this work of art, and thank you for lending me a few of Your tools; namely my mother Dorothy Harris who tirelessly sacrificed, nudged, encouraged and admonished, if necessary, all to elevate me to a higher plane. My brother Mitchell Harris who’s business acumen and support is legendary and always on time. My sister Debra L. Harris who’s spiritual insight opened my eyes about a lot of things. My nephew Mitchell R. Harris II, your vision put this project on a much higher trajectory…..Thank you, and love you all!

Ryan Harris, sister-in-law Debra Harris, Darryl Harris III, and Lilaisha Harris as well as my other grandchildren. In your own way you’ve all contributed to this project.

Special Thanks to my sons; Captain William E. Pitre, Darryl W. Harris Jr. (and your mother Izora Harris), Chandler D. Thomas-Harris, Justin J. Harris, nephew Ryan Harris, sister-in-law Debra Harris. In your own way you’ve all contributed to this project.

Also, thanks to my brother by another mother Edwin Robinson and wife Elaine for their life long friendship, support and inspiration; your children, (and by extension my neice and nephew), Constance and Austin Robinson; my brother Charles Buie, (my first mentor) for your encouragement; and my cousin Crystal Bush who at times counseled me through some very difficult periods; my cousin James Eady for support over the years. Love you all!

Love and Prayers for my other brother Leigh David Martin-I love you!

CHAPTER ONE

HIStory

Christian Walker was born in the late nineteen-fifties to a recent divorcée in a small industrial town in northeastern Ohio. He was the youngest of four children, with ages varying from a sister five years to a brother ten years his senior. The age difference made for an interesting yet problematic life for Christian. First off, he was ‘the baby’ in the house. That, of course, had its benefits but at the same time it spawned a recalcitrance that caused his older siblings and mother much consternation. Second, because of the age difference there tended to be a cultural disconnect between him and his siblings. Nevertheless, Christian was generally a well-mannered child and grew up to be to be a very respectable young man.

Both of Christian’s parents were excellent musicians and both performed in jazz quartets. Donald Walker (Christian’s dad) was a pianist extraordinaire. He had a classically refined style infused with jazz improvisation and was widely known for his unique time signatures such as 5/4 and 6/4 time (5/4 time was the time signature of Dave Brubeck’s classic Take Five). One of Donald’s most notable works, a song called Love Sonata, became widely known because it was covered by many of the Big Bands of the time but was never attributed to him by the general public. Unfortunately, the fast-paced lifestyle and drugs eventually destroyed his music career and his marriage.

Gloria Walker (Christian’s mother) was an extremely good piano player, well-versed in jazz and blues, but was usually featured as a vocalist because of her silky smooth four octave range and sexy stage presentation. Eventually she landed a gig with Duke Ellington’s Orchestra as a featured vocalist, which laid the foundation for her own solo career. Although she never made it ‘big’ like, say, a Billie Holliday or Ella Fitzgerald, she worked enough to provide a good life for the Walker family. The problem was, as time went on, Donald Walker’s behavior became so egregious that it deteriorated the foundation of both their music careers and the family structure, so he had to go. That fact had a particularly profound effect on Christian’s self-perception and was an important impetus in his eventual quest to pick up where his parents left off in the music business.

With Christian’s musical pedigree infused in his DNA it was just a matter of time before he decided to pursue his more seminal dreams and aspirations, which of course involved the old family business--the business of music. Although his foundation began at home with piano and voice training from his mother around the age of four, by age seven he was singing lead on a few songs with the youth choir at church. By age thirteen he was playing piano and became a featured lead singer for the adult choir.

During his high school years the choir continued to be a focal point of his activities though, not unlike most kids in his demography, he pursued sports (with some success), hanging out with the fellas, dating, and of course studying. In the summer between his junior and senior years he got his first singing break with the locally renowned group called The Del Toniques. At first this seemed to be the golden opportunity of a lifetime because the Del Toniques were poised to sign with a national record label. Instead, it turned into a source of distress for his mother, who knew all too well the pitfalls of the music business. She also knew that devoting that much time to singing would detract from all of his other obligations such as studying, chores, work, and church.

Hey Mama! Guess what! Christian exclaimed.

What? she answered.

You ever hear of the group called The Del Toniques?

Yeah, I heard of ‘em. What about ‘em? she asked.

A couple of the members heard me sing in church and asked me to join up. How cool is that?

It ain’t cool at all! she responded. What about school? What about church? I know, Mama! I’m not quitting church or school or anything, I’m just pursuing my ‘God-given’ talent. After all, you did!

Although Gloria always encouraged her children, or for that matter, any child, to pursue their wildest dreams, she was keenly aware of the pitfalls that go along with an unstructured life in the entertainment world. So this moment presented a dichotomy in that her own dream was for her children to graduate from college and settle into respectable careers even though she herself was an aspiring and consequently successful entertainer, once upon a time. Not that the music business wasn’t respectable, but it was such a perilous world laced with so much uncertainty. That uncertainty compelled her to take a more circumspect approach with Christian.

Son, you need to concentrate on going to college! The music business ain’t going nowhere! It’ll be there for you later! Once you got a good job, you can THEN perform your craft as a side gig.

That strategy did make sense to Christian, but that strategy required patience. Christian had no patience. For Christian it was more of a noble quest to build upon the legacy of his parents. It was something he had to do! Besides, following a traditional career path simply did not excite him. The only vocation or avocation that he wanted to pursue, the only industry that energized his thought process, the only career that could sustain his ego, was the business of music. In his mind, he was endowed by ‘The Creator’ with undeniable talent, and with that talent, destiny was his to shape.

In the end Christian did join the group. Initially he tried to maintain his regular schedule of studying, choir practice and church but eventually he became less and less focused on church and more and more focused on the Del Toniques, which prompted Gloria to intercede with a sit-down conversation with the co-founder and leader of the group, Panama Ed Baker (given that name by a mafia club owner because he always wore a straw Panama-style hat), and Christian.

Christian, as your mother, I just want to tell you that I love you and you’re such a wonderful son, she said at the meeting, but I gotta tell you, I know this business and yes, I’ve seen a few people skyrocket to success, but I’ve seen ten times the number of lives destroyed. I just want what’s best for you.

I know, Mama! I know what happened between you and my father in the business. I know the pain you experienced and all the ups and downs in the business. But you had a calling that wouldn’t let you rest. A calling that sometimes wouldn’t let you sleep! And more importantly, a question that had to be answered! Do I have what it takes? How do I know? Because I have that same feeling…and it won’t go away no time soon. So Mama, I know you want to protect me but I gotta do this!

Mrs. Walker, Panama began, I do understand what you’re trying to say. The fact of the matter is, I do have an associate degree in music and hope to get my bachelor’s! Christian, for us to succeed in this, we all got to be at the top of our game! School will help to give you a broader perspective on things and strengthen your character as well. So we need you to pursue education. In fact, all of us in the group have at least a year in college.

After a considerable amount of lecture and fair amount of coercion, Christian conceded that he must keep up his school work and participation in church. He also vowed to pursue college after high school. That seemed to satisfy his mother and it definitely satisfied Panama because it meant keeping him in the group.

By the end of his senior year the ‘Group’ was popular enough to be the opening act for some of the national acts that frequented the area. That seemed to put the group on a trajectory for success. Christian was now primed, pumped and ready for the world. The problem came later when his mother pressed him to make a decision about attending college. Although Christian promised he would attend, he intended to renege--that is, until Panama interceded.

Man, what do you think you’re doin? I’m-a-tell you this once, baby brother! If you tellin’ me that you don’t have what it takes to go to college, then I’m thinkin’ you don’t have what it takes to be in this group. I need exceptional men, not just exceptional performers. Studying will enlighten you, man!

With that, Christian dutifully attended college for the next few years and indeed enjoyed the college experience, especially after becoming a local celebrity after the Del Toniques performed on campus several times. By all accounts he was a pretty good student and well on his way to following in his siblings’ footsteps as college graduates.

Under Panama Ed’s tutelage, the Del Toniques signed a record deal with a small ‘Indie’ label out of Philadelphia, called Unity Records. They released a minor hit called ‘I tried your love’ that reached number three on the ‘Soul Music Charts’, with about 300 thousand units sold. Respectable, but not enough to reach platinum or gold status, or to gain the momentum needed for a prolonged music career. However, for the next year and a half, they made a little money, traveled up and down the East and West coasts, opened up for some of the major soul groups of the day, and gigged at a few smaller venues while on their so called ‘Tour’. Then, like a ‘flash in the pan’, things began to change.

After the first two singles charted well, the third didn’t break in the top twenty. Because of that, tour support money dried up, as did the bevy of promoters willing to bring them to their town for a concert. Instead of moving forward as a major musical entity, they were relegated to an occasional rotation on the radio, off drive-time, and a few celebrity appearances in the northeastern corridor of the country where they were most popular.

‘Damn! Now what?’ Christian asked himself while on a flight returning from one of the gigs on the East coast.

Right now Christian felt like he could roll up in a big ball and just die. He knew, though, that wallowing in self-pity for even a moment could be a recipe for permanent failure. Instead he decided to go to his condo on Lake Erie, pour a glass or two or three of Remy Martin and get blasted. Then in the morning or afternoon (whatever the case might be), when his head cleared, he could figure out his next step.

The next morning, (after the obligatory two cups of coffee and two Tylenol for the headache), Christian was on the horn with his mentor and friend Panama Ed.

Say, my brotha, said Christian.

What it IS, man? responded Panama.

What you doin up this early? I thought something was wrong, Panama continued.

Man, I just gotta tell you; I’ve been trippin’ since our tours have all but dried up. I don’t know what to do right now, Christian explained.

What do you mean, man? We go right back to the drawing board, said Panama. Did you think this was going to be just a piece of cake for the rest of your life or something? This is the music BUSINESS! Let me say it again, this is the music BUSINESS! Like any other business you gotta deal with obstacles! Now, you can either deal with ‘em or run from ‘em! If runnin’ is what you want to do, then you didn’t deserve to be in the business in the first place, let alone be a part of a group that a short time ago had a hit that was number three with a bullet, Panama chided.

Actually man, I didn’t think it would be easy, I learned that much from my mother, retorted Christian. But everything was laid out for us. I guess I was ready for the success but not prepared for failure.

Listen to me, Christian! We haven’t failed! They failed us!

So what do we do next? asked Christian.

We get smarter, we get better at writing, and we get better at entertaining, proclaimed Panama.Unknown to Christian, Panama Ed had already been thinking about the nexus for the group, which included working with some top-notch producers and taking on a personal manager separate from the record company. He also wanted to purge the group to get rid of a couple of recalcitrant members, namely Chris and Richard.

Ever the consummate pro, Panama had been studying potential personal managers for a while. After careful consideration he found one he thought would be a perfect fit. The problem was this perfect fit had the name Donald Walker…Christian’s long-lost father.

What the hell you mean, Donald Walker, Panama? Christian screamed. "You know good and damn well I don’t have a relationship with him! How you gonna go behind my back and talk to my father about this group?

Hold up man, I didn’t go behind your back. He approached me after the gig in St. Louis! Panama exclaimed. I didn’t know him from Adam. He was in the lobby of the hotel and asked to talk with me in private, so we went to the bar for a drink, and when I asked his name he just said Donald. So I didn’t make a connection then. I gotta tell you, Christian, after talking with him for a while, I was impressed! I really think this is the person who could manage us. It wasn’t until after our meeting and we exchanged business cards that I made the connection.

So why did you call him back after you knew he was my father? asked Christian.

I didn’t. He called me. He asked that I continue searching for a manager and if I found someone better, hire them on the spot. All he asked was to give it careful consideration.

Now Christian was heated! That’s part of his con Panama! Why didn’t he come to me?

Calm down, bro! I asked him that very question, explained Panama while trying to de-escalate the situation.

So what did he say? asked Christian.

He knew that since you had no relationship, you wouldn’t give him a chance.

Give him a chance? He never gave me a chance!

Ok man, I get it! an impatient Panama yelled. Listen, I’m not trying to interfere with you and your father’s relationship but I got to tell you, bro, from a business perspective, he is the best choice for a manager if we plan on moving forward as a group! Besides, people change, and people deserve a second chance.

Christian pondered what he said to him for a moment before he responded.

Panama, you always put a lot of thought into this group, and I appreciate that you took me under your wing when I came on board. But I wasn’t ready to deal with this kind of thing yet, although I knew this day was coming.

Christian, my brother, I value you as a friend and I value your opinion. If you don’t want him as a manager then we’ll move on to someone else. All I ask is that you think about it before you decide.

You always make so much sense, Panama. Let me just think on it a minute, then we’ll talk.

Okay, cool. I appreciate it, man, Panama said as the two embraced in a brotherly hug.

The fact of the matter is that Christian had been thinking about his father lately. He even consulted with his mother, who encouraged him to meet with his father, so he kind of understood that this was a bridge he needed to cross. In a strange way, Panama Ed unknowingly facilitated (or at least precipitated) a ‘come to Jesus meeting’ with his father. The concern was how Christian would respond to his father when sitting face to face. Would his father evoke the deep-seated anger that Christian had been harboring, or elicit the great compassion and forgiveness that was the fulcrum of Christian’s faith? One thing was for sure, no matter what, Christian wanted to stay with the singing group. With or without his father, he wanted that very much.

What it is, Panama Ed? greeted Christian after a few days of not talking with him.

What it is, man? replied Panama.

You were right, acknowledged Christian.

What about? asked Panama.

About my father. I mean on both accounts. He’ll be a tremendous asset to the group, and I need to give him another chance.

Are you sure, Christian?

P, I never been surer of anything in my life. I know I got some issues with him and I want to hear him out, but it’s time for me to face this, Christian said. One thing, though, I think I’d be more comfortable if I met with him beforehand, cause I’d rather not air my dirty laundry, if you know what I mean, Christian stated.

I understand, my brotha, Panama happily replied.

Two days later Christian found himself just minutes away from a face-to-face meeting with his father at a small soul food restaurant downtown Cleveland. Although he had a deep-seated anger at his father for not being there when he needed him most, the thing that kept him sane throughout his life was actually his life. God was the focal point but his mother incessantly reminded him that they were all blessed despite the emotional hardships. If anything, Donald Walker missed out on all the wonderful moments that this family experienced.

He can’t get that back, Christian thought to himself.

In reality, Donald understood quite well what he missed out on and wanted to reach out to his family from time to time, but knew that he had to eliminate the vices that controlled most of his adult life. Then he would have to rebuild his own life before he dared to get involved with his family, lest he inadvertently destroy them.

Hey son, Donald said with a smile.

Hey Donald--or Dad, I guess I should say, Christian said, almost embarrassed. I’m sorry; I’m not even sure what to call you.

You can call me whatever you’re comfortable with, replied Donald. May I call you son? Of course.

Now son, let me just say that I know you have a lot of questions for me, and I’ll answer them as honestly as I can, but let’s order some food or something so we won’t have any distractions, OK?

All right, a nervous Christian responded.

With the ordering of lunch out of the way and after an uncomfortable moment of silence, Christian looked his dad directly in the eye and asked,

Why?

After a deep breath Donald began, Well son, I can’t tell you why, but I can give you some insight to my mindset early on in my life. First of all, there is no excuse whatsoever for what I did or didn’t do for my family. I met your mom when I was about eighteen or nineteen years old. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen! At about the same time I landed my first music gig and started publishing some of the songs that I wrote, some of which were used by a few big bands of the era. I think you already know that part, though. Anyway, I was making a little money and traveling around the country performing my act, and at some point I was introduced to dope. First it was marijuana then coke, and then heroin. In the meantime I started dating your mother. In the beginning, I hid my drug use from her but I’m sure over time I wasn’t foolin’ anybody. Even then she was so supportive and we were so in love that we ended up getting married. I was so happy. I even went cold turkey to get off drugs. We had so many dreams together: our careers, our family, our love. Anyway, although I was the one that got your mom started in the business, over time her career blossomed and far eclipsed what I was doin’.

I don’t understand, a confused Christian said. Shouldn’t that be the aim? I mean, shouldn’t that be the purpose of two people getting together? She supported you; shouldn’t you support her? You’re absolutely right, son. I was living an adult life in every aspect except emotionally. Emotionally I was a scared, spoiled child. I became more and more jealous of her success, even though I was benefitting from it. To ease the pain, I started with the ‘smack’ again, but this time there was no turning back! I was doin’ it two or three times a day, which took a lot of money out of the household. That became a major point of contention between your mother and me. Now, your mother tried her best to help me by making me her manager but that was just a move to save our marriage. I wasn’t fit to manage my life, let alone someone else’s. Son, it’s important for you to understand that I never stopped loving your mother or you kids. I didn’t want to leave you all but I knew I had to or I’d destroy you too. I did try to get help for my habit and was clean for some periods of my absence, but it seemed I would fall right back into it again and again. Finally it got so bad that I tried to commit suicide. That was my turning point. I remember my mentor asking me, ‘Do you really want to die? If you did you could’ve taken a more lethal dose. If you want to live, you have to fight to live!’ That really impacted me because it meant I’d have to grow up and stop being so selfish. That was about twelve years ago.

Why didn’t you reach out to us after you were clean? Christian asked.

I never stopped wanting to, Christian! But your mom was doing such an exemplary job I couldn’t take the risk of disrupting your lives again, not knowing if I was strong enough to resist the dope thing when the pressure of family life hit. So I stayed away. I know I can never get those days back and I may pay for it forever. But son, it warms my heart to see your success, your brother’s and sister’s success, and I am amazed at what your mom has accomplished.

Dad, I got to ask you then, why did you just pop up now?

Thinking a bit, Donald said, Because, son, I’m stronger now, and you need my help with your career, and I need your help with my life.

What do you mean? questioned Christian.

Well, the one thing I’ve prayed about all along was to get an opportunity to positively impact your life. Now, I’ve been following your career from the very beginning, even back at Greater Second Baptist, through your success as a member of the Del Toniques. Even though Panama provided excellent leadership for the group, the reason Unity dropped you guys was as much political as it was economics. In other words, you needed someone in the industry with an inside edge to go to bat for you. I can provide that.

I guess the fact that you get a twelve to fifteen percent management fee will help you get your life back, quipped Christian.

No son, you’re wrong, Donald responded. Fortunately, because of publishing and performance royalties from some of the songs I wrote, I’ve been able to live a comfortable life in the last decade. It seems my songs have been used in commercials and covered by a few artists, Donald boasted. So I’ll waive any management fee and in fact will only stay on until you find a nationally reputable management company to represent you.

Have you talked to Panama about this part? Christian asked.

No, I haven’t talked about any specifics yet, said Donald.

Oh, I see, Christian said.

After a long pause he added,

Well Dad, I’m glad we finally got a chance to talk. You gave me a lot to think about, but I at least have something to fill in the blanks of the past. I was so full of anger for so long. It’s like a ton of bricks have been lifted off my shoulders!

So where do we go from here, son?

After a pause Christian responded, "Well, as the Chinese say, ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step’. I think you should come to our next meeting to talk with the entire group," Christian proclaimed.

Thank you, son, for meeting with me and giving me a second chance to be in your life. That will give my life back to me.

Meanwhile, Panama Ed was on pins and needles waiting for Christian to call with an update. Not just because of the group and the impact that someone with Donald’s credibility would have, but because he genuinely cared about Christian and would love for him to start a new chapter in life with his father. He was so pleased that he could help facilitate that process.

As for the group, he realized that they were at the precipice of a new beginning. As leader of the group he was certain he needed to make some personnel changes so the group could transition into the next phase in the music industry. Part of that strategy was to add a strong female vocalist and make Christian the featured male vocalist. Panama came to the conclusion that Christian had exactly the right voice and stage presence for the time and would be the shot in the arm that would catapult the group to the top of the charts. Adding the female voice would give softer texture and contrast to the sound and consequently more pop music appeal.

At the next group meeting Panama announced, "Everybody listen up! I want to introduce to you someone that I think will have a tremendous impact on the future of this group. He has a career that spanned many decades and has experience in every aspect of the music business, including promoting and management! Lend him your ear," proclaimed Panama.

My brothers, my name is Donald Walker. And yes, I am Christian’s father. But that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I can help this group move forward at this time. Now I’m not gonna spend time talking about my credentials. You do your research on me…but what I will do is lay out a plan that will get the Del Toniques back on top. My hope is that you’ll see the value of my involvement right away. However, if after a probationary period of six months or so, I don’t fit, then we can just go our separate ways. After all, I’m not asking for a salary, and I’m not asking for a contract.

Wait a minute, wait a minute! yelled Richard (one of the other members marked for expulsion). Panama, how in the hell you gonna pick somebody to manage us without consulting us?

Before Panama could answer, Christian interjected, Richard, Panama did talk to us about bringing in some new management! The fact is, just like every other major decision in this group, Panama is the only one that steps up to the plate to actually handle anything! When was the last time you volunteered to handle some business for the group? In fact, all I see you do is come to practice late, sing a little background and collect a paycheck!

M***** f*****, I’m the one that recommended we bring you in to this group! Now you gonna talk to me that way? hollered Richard.

From Donald’s perspective this was the perfect time to introduce his management technique to circumvent any escalation in hostilities. He knew he had to placate each member to settle things down, and the way he did it was by talking about personal responsibility. He started with himself by intimating his regret for not being involved in Christian’s life.

If I had been involved, I may have had a chance to impact Christian’s life the way a responsible dad is supposed to. I might have been able to intercede on behalf of the group in dealing with the record label in the first place. I can’t change the past. I can only do better in the future, proclaimed Donald. I also want to tell you that it was me that pursued a management opportunity with Panama, not the other way around.

As simple as the strategy was, it seemed to work. Everyone talked about their own failings and before long they were laughing at each other. With the animosities out of the way, it seemed everyone accepted Donald’s leadership. That was the easy part. Next up would be the all- important restructuring of the Fabulous Del Toniques.

Although Donald agreed that music was always in a state of transition, and the seventies were no different, he disagreed with Panama on how to transform this particular group at this time. From Donald’s perspective it was counterintuitive and maybe a little disingenuous to force two of the founding members from the group right now. After all, they were part of the collective effort that catapulted the Del Toniques to chart notoriety. However, he agreed that there needed to be a restructuring if there was going to be a future on the big stage, so he blessed the anointing of his son as the focal point (i.e., lead singer) and recommended that the two members in question remain in the group for now. Surprisingly, the other two members were happy with the arrangement or either they were relieved that they were still a part of the group. Either way, the problem seemed solved for now. That’s why you have to have good management, Panama thought to himself.

* * *

CHAPTER TWO

Herstory

Savannah St. Claire was born in 1969 and raised in a small community called Elton, Louisiana. Although there was virtually no industry in the town (most were tenant farmers or worked at offshore oil rigs for some of the major oil companies), Savannah grew up with a middle class if not a privileged life because of her parents’ occupations. Her father was a well-respected minister of a fairly large congregation that was the religious and social epicenter for the black communities in the surrounding counties, while her mother was a school teacher at the local elementary school. Rev. Calvin St. Claire was a large man, about 6ft. 3in, and weighed in at 250 lbs. Although he was an imposing figure, he had a natural charismatic magnetism and confidence that he used to his advantage.

Shortly before Savannah’s birth, Rev. St. Claire began to get involved in the civil rights struggle of the late sixties and seventies. There had been great social strides made as a result of the sacrifices of the sixties but there was still much to be improved on in the lives of most of the African Americans in this community. By virtue of his courage, passion, faith, and verbal polish, he usually ended up at the center of most issues, especially those involving race. In time Rev. St. Claire was elected to a city council position and paved the way for several industries (such as casinos and hotels) to relocate to Elton, thus dramatically changing the employment dynamics for the area. In doing so he also created political and business alliances around the state and even in Washington, D.C. Rev. St. Claire’s persona had a profound effect on his entire family, especially Savannah, who by all indications was a daddy’s girl but over the years developed a deep and abiding respect for her father’s political astuteness.

Mrs. Janine St. Claire (Savannah’s mother), the teacher, was very intelligent, very confident, very articulate and very beautiful. She was Creole and considered an octoroon, as they called the very light-hued blacks in those days. Although she was aware of her physical characteristics, she relied more on her intelligence and professionalism to succeed in life. She inculcated that point to Savannah (who looked every bit as stunning) on a regular basis.

As a child, Savannah was skinny and a little frail but she soon developed an athletic physique that enabled her to compete with her siblings and friends in the neighborhood in the sport of the day, which might include running, baseball, basketball and on occasion (if her parents weren’t around) football. By the time she entered Junior High she was good enough to be selected to the basketball, volleyball and track teams.

Up until that point, her father and mother closely monitored every aspect of her social interactions to ensure that she didn’t deviate from the social order of the community. Socially things had improved but there were still some structural impediments that were cause for concern. However, once she entered the now-integrated junior high school, she had her first experience with real world circumstances and that meant that she had to react and respond based on the set of principles she was raised with. Her first challenge was with the basketball team. Although she was clearly the most talented player by far, there had never been a black person starting at that school, which meant that she’d have to spend a considerable amount of time on the bench. The way that she overcame the temporary setback would be a telling barometer for her success in future endeavors. She didn’t lie down, and she didn’t complain. She went to work honing her skills, becoming a student of the game while constantly practicing. As a result, the following year she became the starting point guard for the team and set a school record for points and assists. That record hasn’t been broken since.

In high school she became all-conference at point guard and continued to enjoy success in track and field. In fact, in her senior year she qualified for the state finals in the women’s 100 meter dash, (she won first place, and had a photo finish second place in the 200 meter dash. To this day people are still talking about the photo finish. She was robbed is the refrain you hear from most people from her town. Others say, I don’t understand why they just didn’t run the race over. No matter what, the end result was that Savannah St. Claire remained relevant in her school and community and impacted anyone that she met.

A tremendous athlete she was; however, she seemed to have an intense interest or calling for student government. In her sophomore year she was elected to the student council as a delegate. Almost immediately she seemed to have an aptitude for the art of debate and became very conversant in issues relating to the school and the council. Because of her background in the church she was very comfortable speaking and even developed a reputation for speaking ‘truth to power’.

During her first year on the council there was an incident on the school campus between two popular boys, one named Vic, who was white, and Johnny, who was black. Apparently the fight was because Johnny was allegedly dating a white girl named Collin. The fact was that although Johnny and Collin liked each other they never ventured past the boundary of friendship. Nevertheless, their relationship made some in the school and the community uncomfortable.

One day after school Johnny was confronted by a group of white kids including Vic (who had a crush on Collin), who was at least two inches taller and twenty pounds heavier than Johnny.

Hey dude, Vic said. I heard you been spending a lot of time with Collin! What the f***is up with that?

That’s right, but that ain’t none of your m***** f****** business, Vic, Johnny said while looking directly at him.

Well, I’m makin’ it my business, Vic said while closing in on Johnny’s personal space.

Johnny attempted to back up but was blocked by one of the kids, who pushed him back toward Vic. That prompted Johnny to throw a preemptive strike (i.e., sucker punch) that knocked Vic back and bloodied his nose. The two then locked horns and wrestled on the ground a bit until two other white kids joined in the fracas and began to overwhelm Johnny. Eventually school officials broke up the fight, but not before Johnny sustained a broken nose and severely bruised ribs.

The next day Johnny, his mother, Vic and his parents were summoned to the vice principal’s office, (the principal was out of town attending a conference). Based on the testimony of Vic and his cohorts, and in spite of Johnny’s mother’s objections, Johnny was immediately suspended from school for three days as well as from the football team for three games. Vic received only three days of detention for violating school policy by engaging in prohibited activity during school hours and while on school property, whatever that means. The vice principle cited the progressive and weighted steps of disciplinary actions mandated by the student handbook as the reason for the disparity between the two punishments. Johnny, it was determined, was the antagonist and threw first punch, so he received the most severe punishment.

That’s not the truth, a frustrated Johnny protested. I was just walkin’ home from school and they approached me and started this stuff about me dating Collin.

Yeah, but I just stopped you to talk to you, proclaimed Vic.

That’s B.S. and you know it, Vic!

The fact of the matter was that Vic was lying and Johnny was telling the truth. The problem for Johnny was that there were no witnesses who could corroborate his side of the story.

The vice principal, who many felt had an aversion to the black community, added a caveat.

Any additional infractions on my campus and you will be suspended from the school for good!

Johnny’s mother noted the overreach by the vice principal but maintained her comportment. Her plan was to appeal to principal Papendreau, who had a reputation for fairness, or Rev. St. Claire, who had a reputation for taking action.

In the interim, a group of black students took offense to Johnny’s suspension and began to organize a campus-wide protest that was to begin Monday afternoon and continue until justice was served. The plan was to gather at lunch time and immediately after school if necessary in one of the empty areas of the school parking lot. Signs were made and emotions were riled. It was intended to be peaceful but as always with these types of gatherings, the potential for volatility existed.

As the weekend gave way to Monday morning, Mr. Papendreau was greeted (as soon as he stepped into his office) by a phone call from Johnny’s mother and from Rev. St. Claire expressing their concern with how the situation was handled on Friday.

The calls totally caught Mr. Papendreau off guard. For one, he should have been notified by the vice principal Tom Scott the moment this incident happened. Second, two of his favorite students were involved.

Something is not right with this, he explained to Rev. St. Claire. I know Johnny and Johnny is not a troublemaker. In fact, I wish I had more students like him.

Rev. St. Claire agreed and granted the principal the courtesy of resolving the incident before he himself would get involved.

Why in the hell wasn’t I notified about this incident before now? a furious Mr. Papendreau yelled at the vice principal.

Well sir, you were out of town and I was acting on your behalf, responded the vice principal.

Bullshit, Tom! You know the protocol of this office. If nothing else, common courtesy or common sense should have dictated that you inform me of any incident that happened at MY SCHOOL, not yours, MY SCHOOL! You haven’t heard the last of this! Is there anything else I need to know about all this?

Mr. Papendreau’s executive assistant Mrs. Carter spoke up.

I heard from some of the students that a protest or boycott by some of Johnny’s supporters is going to happen today around lunch.

Heard from which students, Mrs. Carter? the principal asked.

Ah, primarily Savannah St. Claire.

You mean the Reverend’s daughter? Is she one of the organizers?

"No sir, I don’t think so. I think she has a sense of the relevance of this incident so she was trying to give a heads-up!

Good, I’m glad somebody has a sense of the relevance of this incident, Mr. Papendreau said while glaring at the vice principal. "Get Savannah to my office, now!

To say that Savannah had a ‘sense of the relevance’ of this issue was an understatement. Conflict resolution was part of her DNA. She also grasped the notion (from watching her father and reading countless books of the civil rights movement) that organized demonstrations tend to add a sense of urgency to an issue.

Good morning, Savannah! I want you to tell me everything that you know about this incident on Friday, the principal said as Savannah walked into his office.

Well sir, she began, there has been speculation about Johnny dating Collin for some time now. Some people think it’s ok and some don’t, as you may know. I’ve talked to Johnny about it and he told me point-blank that they’re just friends.

Well, I think he should be able to date whomever he wants, don’t you think, Savannah?

Yes, in a perfect world, and what I mean by that is that I don’t think this confrontation was initially racially motivated because I heard through the grapevine that Vic actually likes Collin but she doesn’t like him.

So let me guess, the principal said. His circle of friends convinced him that Collin didn’t want to date him because of Johnny.

Exactly, affirmed Savannah.

So how can we circumvent the protests that are happening today?

Ahh, you mean the demonstration, she said more euphemistically.

Of course, he agreed.

If you can call off the suspensions, then I believe I can hold off the demonstrations. Not that I can control the demonstrators but I do have some sway with some of the leaders and athletes. Besides, most of the kids admire you and they don’t blame you; they blame Mr. Scott for the outcome.

That’s good to know, Savannah. This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to temporarily undo the suspensions pending an investigation. I need you to spread the word that justice will be served. I think that will buy us some time on the demonstrations.

I do too, she responded.

The next step for Savannah would be to approach a brother named Mike Ford. He was the student president of the Pan African Student Union, which was an underground body of politically motivated students that embraced African traditions and dress and generally operated as a black student advocacy group. Mike Ford was a very astute and articulate leader with a profound understanding of the social undercurrents that permeated the community. He had the support of some of