To Catch a Tiger

By James Bennett

TO CATCH A TIGER is the true story of how racism nearly destroyed a small Southern community. Based on historical events that happened between 1958 and 1960 in Front Royal, Virginia, this autobiographical story follows the lives of two boys, Davey MacLaren, who is white, and Jackie King, who is black. The two are caught up in the calamitous events when their small, Southern community becomes the first place in the nation where the public high school is closed to avoid being integrated. The town is split equally between moderates and "old South" segregationists. Although the boys' experiences are very different, their dreams and aspirations are similar. Both Davey and Jackie find themselves on perilous paths where they have little control over what will happen to them.
This book reveals the depth and complexities of the human side of this civil rights story. The multiple plot lines combine memorable characters, psychological tension, humor, 1950s nostalgia, and even a murder mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329774261

James Bennett

James Bennett, born 1949, grew up in a tiny village on the North Downs, England. Bennett found a lifelong love of words, poetry and thinking outside the box. He went on to study English Literature at Cambridge University in the turbulent mind-expanding late 1960's. Bennett took to Buddhist meditation, Jungian Psychology and the Sufi Order International. After graduating 1971 he travelled with Sufis to the Glastonbury Fayre to attend that epic festival of music and spirituality. There he met the publisher of this book who invited him to move to Edinburgh, Scotland, to help run Gandalf's Garden Seed Center, a mystical discussion center that accepted all insights. For there Bennett's interest in dream led him to Dr. Winifred Rushforth, a pioneer in dream groups, who combined a Jungian perspective with eclectic spirituality. Bennett then helped in the creation of the Salisbury Centre, that still offers meditation, yoga and tai chi, crafts, dream groups and the study of mystical writings from all religions. Bennett next felt drawn to psychotherapy. To gain a solid background in a helping profession he entered a two year intensive Social Work graduate program at Edinburgh University, 1974- 1976. Bennett then worked as a psychiatric social worker training in family systems therapy. Next while working at a psychiatric hospital he also studied psychodynamic therapy, the human potential movement, and attended workshops with Bly, Meade and Hillman of the Men's Movement. In 1982 he came to USA for a certificate-training program in Gestalt Therapy in Boston, MA. There he met his current wife Judy and settled there. After working for seven years in a Boston Addictions Treatment Centre, Bennett became an independent practitioner with a licensed private practice in Arlingto. MA. Bennett has maintained a passionate interest in dreams, mythology, eco-psychology, archetypal psychology and male psychology, and this book has emerged from the disparate experiences of a searching life, in an attempt to understand his and our place in the wider universe of which we are a part.

Book preview

Bennett

The Choosing Rhyme

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

Catch a nigger by the toe.

If he hollers, let…"

Stop it right now, Davey MacLaren! I don’t want you using that word. That’s not a very nice thing to say. The boy’s mother had overheard him from the next room where she was sorting and folding their clean laundry. In the next moment she appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.

She was a slender woman in her early thirties, barely five-two and carrying an empty laundry basket. It was obvious to her older son she was on her way to retrieve another load of dry clothes from the clothesline before the dew started to settle. It seemed to Davey that she was always busy cooking or cleaning or washing and folding – taking care of her husband and two boys.

What word? Davey wondered as he turned and looked up at his mother. What did I say that was so wrong? The wide-eyed, seven-year-old, freckle-faced boy with a buzz haircut had a puzzled look on his face. He was kneeling beside his younger brother’s bed where he had laid out a selection of five Little Golden Books on the chenille bedspread.

The word, ‘nigger.’ It’s a bad word. Don’t say it.

But that’s the way the rhyme goes.

I don’t care how the rhyme goes; you’re not to say it. You’ll have to use a different word.

He was genuinely confused because he had heard the children at school repeat the rhyme exactly the way he had said it. His mother could tell he was confused.

You shouldn’t say it because colored people don’t like to be called that word. It means they are inferior.

But everybody says ‘nigger.’ That’s just the way the rhyme goes.

Don’t argue with me, young man. His mother did not put up with a lot of backtalk, and Davey had reached his limit. Neither could she resist the temptation to lecture her children when she was reprimanding them. That word’s disrespectful toward Negroes. It’s an ugly and hateful word. You’re never to use that word again. Plain and simple. You should know better, Davey MacLaren. Anyway, I don’t care what other people say or do. If something’s wrong, it’s wrong regardless of how many people do it. I haven’t raised some heathen. Do you understand, young man?

Yes, ma’am, but how can I choose a book if I can’t say the choosing rhyme? You told me to read a story to Guy-Guy, and I need to pick one of the books.

You can say ‘catch a tiger.’ Yes, that’s it; just say ‘catch a tiger,’ instead.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Davey’s face looked like he had just tasted something sour. That sounds really strange.

Get used to it. You need to learn that sometimes we all need to make changes. Say ‘tiger’ or don’t say the rhyme at all. That’s your choice. Do you understand?

Yes, ma’am.

"Which one will it be, Guy-Guy? Let’s pick one. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Hey! Looks like I’ll read Bongo tonight." Davey held up the book as he rose from kneeling and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Hurray! I love Bongo! exclaimed Davey’s younger brother, I like it when the bears slap each other. Bears say hello with a slap!"

Guy-Guy, who looked like a younger version of his older brother, reached out to give his brother a slap on the shoulder, but Davey was too quick and leaned to one side, avoiding being the target of the younger boy’s swinging hand. They both laughed.

You’ve already heard this story, Davey said with a note of disappointment in his voice.

"I know, but I really like it. Read Bongo – read Bongo – read…"

"Okay, okay! I’ll read Bongo."

The book was short – just twenty-four pages, each with a full-color illustration that filled most of the space. On most of the pages, no more than five or six lines of text were written beneath the pictures. As Davey read, he was careful to turn the book so his brother could see each of the illustrations. They especially enjoyed looking at the pictures and talking about them after Davey had read the accompanying text.

Bongo is so cute. Look at the squirrel and the rabbit and the skunk watching him ride that wheel.

That wheel is called a unicycle, Guy-Guy.

Guy-Guy listened attentively as his older brother read about a little bear named Bongo who performed in a circus. In fact, he was the star of the show. He could juggle, ride a unicycle, and perform on the tightrope. The problem was he felt very lonely and unhappy, because, when he was not doing his circus act, he was locked away in a cage all by himself.

The picture of Bongo sitting up in his bed is my favorite. He’s sad, but look at all that stuff he has in his room – cards and radio and a dartboard and a cake! Why is he sad, Davey?

He’s sad because he feels lonely.

Davey read about how the little bear jiggled his cage door open, escaped from the circus train, and joined the bears that lived in the forest. Having lived in captivity, he had to learn the ways of the bears that lived in the wild. Eventually, he grew to be very happy because he was no longer lonely. He had found lots of friends – and even a girlfriend!

When Davey finished reading, Guy-Guy asked, "Do you like Bongo, Davey?"

Yes. I liked the part where Bongo breaks free. I liked that part best.

I love Bongo. Bears say hello with a slap! This time Guy-Guy connected when he swung his arm. He hit his brother square on the shoulder.

Davey tumbled off the edge of the bed and rolled to the floor where he played dead.

Davey! I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you all right? Guy-Guy was genuinely concerned as he peered over the side of the bed.

Davey remained motionless until he realized that Guy-Guy was beginning to think he had actually injured his brother.

I’ll getcha! Davey yelled as he sprung up, pinned his brother back against the bed, and began to tickle him with both hands. Davey knew exactly where Guy-Guy was the most sensitive to being tickled – up his sides and under his arms.

Guy-Guy was laughing uncontrollably. Tears rolled from his eyes down the sides of his face. He tried with all his might to free himself from his brother’s grip, but he was helpless. In the throes of his laughter, he tried in vain to turn and push his brother’s hands away to free himself from the relentless tickling. It was only the unmistakable sound of flatulence that finally made Davey stop.

BRRRRRRRRIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPTT!

Davey looked down at Guy-Guy and pulled away. You pooted! You dirty dog!

Guy-Guy pooted! the younger brother echoed.

Now, both boys were laughing. I’ll get you! Davey exclaimed. No, I get you, Guy-Guy countered as the two of them began to wrestle on the bed. They were nearly evenly matched. Although Davey was two years older and the taller of the two, Guy-Guy was chunkier and exceptionally strong.

No rough-housing, boys! their mother commanded from the other room. "It’s past Guy-Guy’s bedtime. If you’ve finished reading the story, Davey, I want you to turn off your brother’s light right now and go to your own room. You have thirty minutes before your bedtime.

While Davey was gathering up the books and putting them away, Guy-Guy was getting settled under his covers. Suppressing his continuing laughter, Davey said good-night, flicked off the light switch, and tiptoed out of his brother’s bedroom. He was thinking about how much he enjoyed time spent with his little brother. They had fun together.

Many years later, Davey recalled the events of that evening in 1952 when he was just seven years old, and his brother was five. "I remember vividly as if it were just yesterday, my mother interrupting me and lecturing me on why I shouldn’t say the N-word. I also remember the close relationship my brother and I shared way back then. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t always feel so close to my brother. As typical for many siblings, we grew apart over the years.

"Looking back, it seemed to be a much happier time – a time when we felt secure in the world around us where everything was perfectly ordered, and we had everything we would ever need. In our innocence, we believed that all was right with the world, and the rightness of everything would never come to an end.

Our generation was labeled the ‘Baby Boomers’ – my brother and I were born barely two years apart right after our father returned home from the war. I have a copy of LIFE magazine from the fifties that referred to us as the ‘Luckiest Generation’ because it was a time of prosperity and a positive outlook for the future. It was the ‘good old days’ back then – a time of ‘In God We Trust’ – a time before the threat of communism and the atomic bomb – a time before we experienced the confrontations over racial inequality and injustice – a time right before we got smacked in the face by the reality that our perfect little world wasn’t really so perfect after all.

Davey stopped talking, took a drink of lemonade, and looked across the patio table at the young man who was there to interview him.

Please explain, Mr. MacLaren, the young man urged. I know my readers would like to know more about those events that I assume you’re referring to when you say you were smacked in the face by reality.

The Secret Meeting

Two black and white state police cars with Virginia state insignias emblazoned on the front doors were parked in the small parking area at the base of Old Rag Mountain near Sperryville, Virginia. In the back seat of one of the cars was a man of about fifty with manicured nails and graying temples. He was dressed for hiking but would have felt more comfortable in a three-piece suit.

The middle-aged man broke the silence. I thought he was supposed to meet us at 8:00 this morning. Goddamnit, I was here on time, and I had to get up at five this morning to get here from Richmond. Pearson, can you contact them by radio and see when they’ll arrive?

The state trooper seated in the driver’s seat was a short, broad-shouldered and muscular man with red hair and a moustache which he frequently stroked with his left hand as if trying to train the whisker hairs to lie flat. He responded, Sorry, Governor Stanhope. We have strict orders to maintain radio silence – too many eavesdroppers. I know the other unit will get here just as fast as possible. Maybe traffic out of Washington has caused a small delay.

Shit. It wasn’t the traffic that was the holdup. Excuse my French, but it’s that son-of-a-bitch who’s the reason we’re sitting here waiting, the governor said, and then under his breath, he muttered, You’d think he was already...

He was interrupted by the sound of sirens approaching. Two additional police cars sped into the parking lot with their red lights flashing and sirens blaring. The cars pulled into the spaces next to the first two cars, turned off their lights and sirens and sat there. No one got out.

With all due respect sir, Senator Hedges is waiting for us to come over to his car. It would be inadvisable to keep him waiting, said the state trooper to his distinguished passenger.

Yeah, I know, Pearson. You’ve been with me a long time – ever since I was in the state Senate. You know how I feel, and I can trust you. I hate this. It’s not going to be pleasant, was the reply.

Governor Stanhope, flanked on either side by state troopers, got out of the car and walked over to one of the cars that had just arrived. The state troopers opened the back door and stepped back as if waiting for a royal personage to appear.

Two cocker spaniels bounded out of the car followed by a short man with a receding hairline and wearing glasses with clear frames. He was holding the ends of the dogs’ leashes which he promptly handed to one of the state troopers and extended his right hand. He too was dressed in hiking attire.

Howdy, Tom. Glad you could make it. Good to see you. How are Mary and the boys?

They’re all fine, answered Stanhope as he reached forward and shook the shorter man’s calloused hand.

The governor was surprised by the strength of the senator’s grip. He winced audibly as he felt his hand would surely be crushed.

Governor Stanhope was all too aware of the reason for their meeting, and he didn’t want to prolong the inevitable with pointless small talk. He wanted to get it over with and get back home as soon as he could. Thinking he would speed things along and get right to the point, he asked, What’s the reason for meeting out here in the middle of nowhere?

Senator Hedges smiled, tilted his head to one side and stared back at the governor, Old Rag is one of my favorite spots in all of God’s creation, Tom. Just you wait until we get to the summit. It’s beautiful up there. You can see for miles and miles. No time for serious talk now – too many ears around here, but it’s quite a hike to the top, and we can talk once we get there, if you’re man enough to make it all the way. Ha! You know, anyone who calls me old, receives my personal challenge to hike with me up Old Rag. Then we see who’s old! Ha! I had a shelter built up top where we can relax and chat. Are you ready? Got plenty of water? You’ll need it, Gover-newer!

As the two men stood there, the state troopers hurriedly searched the area. Finally, the captain of the unit approached the two men and reported, All clear. You won’t be bothered.

Senator Hedges led the way up the hiking path to the top. He walked at a faster pace than was comfortable for the governor, but Stanhope did his best to follow close behind. Two of the state troopers with backpacks walked several steps behind the two leaders. A third trooper, who carried a briefcase in one hand, managed the dogs on a leash with his other hand. The other state troopers remained behind and were roping off the parking area.

Nearly three hours later, the hiking party arrived at the summit. The senator enjoyed seeing that Governor Stanhope was gasping for breath after the arduous hike. He also delighted in displaying his knowledge as he pointed out various landmarks to the others. After a few minutes looking at the view from the summit, they walked back to the shelter. The senator and the governor entered and sat down across the table from each other. Stanhope was fatigued and had trouble speaking. Senator Hedges, on the other hand, appeared to have more energy than when they had started. The state troopers deposited their backpacks and the briefcase as well as a walkie-talkie within the reach of the senator who spoke.

Sergeant, take my dogs for a walk around the summit while the governor and I chat in private. Tom, here’s our delicious lunch. Senator Hedges opened the backpacks and took out sandwiches and drinks and laid them on the table. Dig in.

The state troopers retreated to a safe distance.

Hedges looked directly at Stanhope as if they were engaged in a staring contest. "I was deeply troubled by your statement the other day in which you seemed to be saying that Virginia will remain calm and not react but carefully consider steps to follow the Supreme Court’s decision on implementing Brown versus School Board."

I sent you a letter explaining myself which…

And that letter only made me angrier. Listen here. We need to be on the same page on this issue. Right now, we do not see eye-to-eye on this. If we’re going to win, we must be united. Don’t you agree?

Yes sir, but…

Now, I know you think that this can be approached through legislation, but you’re clearly wrong. You can’t win with legislation – not as long as Earl Warren and Hugo Black are on the Supreme Court, and the NAACP has lawyers like Thurgood Marshall. They’ll strike you down every step of the way.

Hedges paused to gauge Stanhope’s reaction. When the governor nodded, signifying that he understood, the senator continued, "Massive Resistance is the name of our strategy. If all the governors and legislators in the South resist obeying this Supreme Court ruling, the court will have no choice but make some accommodations for the south and change this horrible law. It’s totally unconstitutional. It’s a direct attack on states’ rights. If we can organize the southern states for Massive Resistance to this order, in time the rest of the country will realize that racial integration is not going to be acceptable in the South.

Resistance is precisely what our white citizens who are in the majority want us to do. Virginia has to lead the way. Since Maryland has desegregated schools, that makes Virginia the northern-most segregated state. What Virginia does is decisive. The other southern states are looking to us to lead the way. If we stand tough and resist, others will follow, and we will defeat this unconstitutional law!

Senator Hedges took a drink. This law is a threat to states’ rights. It will undermine our constitutional rights and destroy our way of life. The Federal government has overstepped its authority here; it has no right to tell Virginia taxpayers how they must spend their money. Virginia taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for desegregated schools. I know for a fact the communists are behind this whole thing. Their goal is to destroy our democracy. You and I have to stand together for what is right and protect this democracy and the principle of states’ rights. When we defeat integration, we’ll defeat communism.

Stanhope continued to nod in agreement. I agree with you completely. Our only issue is how best to resist this Supreme Court decision. I believe that we can fight them through the legislature. Fight fire with fire. Then…

"Goddammit, man. You’re just plain wrong on this. Now, you need to shut up and listen. You sound just like a whining little sissy. Remember, we have a sacred duty here; we are acting in the tradition of our founding fathers and the great Robert E. Lee. Remember your history, when Lee was selected to command the Union Army in the Civil War, what did he do? He chose instead to command the army of the Confederacy. Why? Because his loyalty was first of all to the state of Virginia, the place of his birth. His allegiance to Virginia came first before his allegiance to the United States.

Another great Virginian, James Madison said the states have a duty to prevent the harm that would result from what he defined as, and I quote, ‘a deliberate, palpable, and dangerous, unconstitutional action by the federal government.’ That’s exactly our situation today.

But, at the same time, the fourteenth amendment to the US Constitution, talks about equality under the law.

"Of course, but that doesn’t mean the races have to mix. The cornerstone of our way of life rests upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man – that subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. Separate but equal is the best rule. How can they ignore Plessey v. Ferguson which upheld the states’ right to enact laws keeping the races separate? Mixing the races will only result in coloreds marrying whites and the mongrelization of the white race. It was never intended that the races should mix. God never intended that the races should mix. That’s why he put them on separate continents."

As I understand it, the Bible strictly forbids marriage between the races. That’s enough for me. The governor wanted to assure the senator that he could be counted on to fight desegregation.

You’re right about that. In fact, the Bible speaks against mixed race marriages in several places. Maybe you read; I gave a speech in the Senate just the other day on this subject of the separation of the races. Mind you, I’m not some racist bigot. I really do want the best for our colored folk, but the Holy Bible is clear on this subject.

The governor smiled.

Here’s some of what I said. Hedges leaned over and pulled a well-worn Bible and some papers from his briefcase. He opened the Bible, spread the papers in front of himself, and began to read. "In the eleventh chapter of Genesis, the Bible tells us about the Tower of Babel and the confusion of languages with the resulting scattering of the people who had attempted to construct the tower. The scattering of these people was a significant act of God which He used to frustrate the misguided efforts of godless men who wanted to assure the permanent integration of the peoples of the earth. It was God’s judgment that the people should be separated.

"In the nineteenth chapter of Leviticus, verse nineteen says ‘Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee.’ According to this law that was delivered to Moses by God, the crossbreeding of different strains of cattle, the planting of mixed seeds, and the mixing of wool and linen in a garment were forbidden. It seems impossible to escape the conclusion that if such intermixture of elements in the lower orders of animal and plant life were contrary to God’s purpose, the same principle would apply with even greater force with respect to human relations.

"In the seventh chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses strictly warned the Israelites against allowing their sons and daughters to intermarry with the pagan peoples with whom they came in contact, under the penalty of bringing upon themselves God’s wrath and judgment. This warning was emphasized over and over and was burned into the consciousness of the nation by the promise of terrible penalties that God would bring down upon them.

"But the strongest argument in the Bible is found in Genesis 9, where after the great flood, the three sons of Noah; Shem, Ham, and Japheth, became the ancestors of three distinct racial groups, which were to repopulate the earth. The descendants of Shem migrated eastward and occupied Asia; the descendants of Japheth migrated westward and occupied the continent of Europe while the children of Ham moved southward toward the tropics and occupied the continent of Africa. Verses twenty through twenty-seven explain that there was a curse placed on Ham, and his son, Canaan, and his descendants.

"And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.' And he said, 'Blessed be the LORD God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant.'

It’s all there in the Holy Scriptures. The descendants of Canaan are the Negroes and because of the curse placed on them, they would be the slaves to serve the other races. Verse twenty-five is quite clear; ‘And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.’ A servant of servants means that he is beneath all others – even the other servants. This is what the Bible says.

I never knew the Bible said that. It’s incredible.

No, it’s completely credible. As white people, we need to preserve the purity and the separation of the races. That’s God’s design. It’s only godless men who will say otherwise. I have nothing against darkies. I don’t dislike them at all. That is the furthest thing from how I feel toward them. In fact, I believe it is my Christian duty to provide a good life for those poor ones whom God has ordained to be my servants. You know, I have many colored workers on my farm. They’re good darkies, and I only want the best for them. I pay them the same wages as my white employees. As I said, I’m not a racist, but I know we have been appointed the masters and darkies are beneath us. That is the reason the white race has achieved so much and the Negro race so little. Mixing the races is not good for either the whites or for the Negroes. And just like we take good care of our livestock, we need to take good care of these descendants of Ham. That’s God’s order. It’s clear.

There was silence. Stanhope felt dizzy after the senator’s diatribe. He was left speechless.

Senator Hedges finally