Jerome Walters

Jerome Walters got up one spring morning in 1952, got dressed in his Sunday best.  His best friend, Mr. Jerry McClain drove him to the "Fedvul" (Fayetteville) train station.  He went directly to the "colored" side of the train depot and bought three tickets, one round trip and one extra "one- way" for the wayward daughter he was retrieving.

"Dey sum man out dere Mathy! Talking bout he yo' daddy!"  Before she could think, before she could conjure up another lie the tall lanky "Injun" looking man was in her room demanding that she pack her bags.

It was a long ride home.  Jerome didn't open his mouth.  His eyes spoke volumnes, they told a very sad story.   His only daughter, the apple of his eye, had gone north and got lost.  The bright lights and big city slayed her.  She was not ready.  She was smart, so smart that her parents wanted the world to know.

Many people called her parents fools behind their backs.  "Dey think dat yalla heifa sumpin'...chile if they knew what I know dey wudden spend nar' five cent on hur!"

This beautiful smart young lady was sent to Virginia Union University, the "colored" Harvard.  She was going to be some body.  She was going to do what her parents always wanted to do but "racism" prevented them.

Jerome was a prosperous tobacco farmer.  He had high hopes, though very humble he was a man of great ambition and pride.  He was still grieving the tragic murder of his first born.  His son was tall , handsome  and brilliant just like his father.  Some no count n**** cut him down (accidentally) when he was seventeen.  (Why do so many fine black men get cut down in the prime of their lives by other black men?)

It was the community, Jerome surmised.  Determined to save his daughter, he stood on GOD's promise and marched into that whore house like he owned it.  "You will Not!" he bellowed.  "I raised you bedder Mathy Jane!"  Too ashamed to look at her father Mathy Jane acquiesced for the first time in many years.

Mathy Jane sent letters home bragging about how fine college was.  She would go into great detail about her classes, explaining how German was such a difficult subject.   Her poor "ignorant" parents cherished her letters, were trilled by words like "geometry" and "calculious".    "Mathy Jane say she duh smartest in all hur classes!"  Little did they know that she had actually dropped out or got put out very shortly into her matriculation.

  Proud that that their daughter would be the first one in the entire family to earn a college degree, all of her youthful mistakes were forgiven.  Jerome was never a man to say; "I told you so."

Some how they found out. Jerome found out that all that money he was sending for tuition was going else where.  He never said a word.  Man, that train ride back to Fayetteville was slow.  The train conductor came by and pulled the shades every time they entered a station.  It was customary.  No one should be forced to look at a black face setting in a segregated train car.  Some how Mathy took it personal.  They are ashamed of me she thought.  "I will fix'um, I will fix all dem muthaf*****!"; Mathy vowed.

As soon as she got home her mother Rachel made her turn right around; "You go git my blood!  You don't give way my blood you yalla heifa!"  Forced to retrieve a bastard that she never wanted in the first place Mathy made a secret vow, a secret pledge to Satan himself that this "luddle black bastard wud suffer eva' day of hur f**** life."

She sure kept her promise.  I have suffered immeasurably, inexplicably for sixty years.  I am so proud to announce to the whole wide world that my "season of suffering" is over!

I will not give up.  I have too much of my little black African great grandmother in me.  This woman worked extra outside jobs as a slave and purchased her own freedom!  I have too much Jerome Walters in me to let you win.  There is too much Christ in me for you to get away.

"Shame on you!  How dare you!?"  You can still repent.  There is room around GOD's throne.  Remain impudent and proud if you want to.  Go down in flames if you want to.  GOD's grace and tender mercy still reign supreme.

Nothing has changed.  I am that daughter that "bested" you.  I didn't bury my talent like you did.  I didn't steal my gifts from you.  All of my talents and gifts are GOD given.   GOD protected me from your worse for His Glory.  You are still an abomination, a foul stench in GOD's nostrils.  You can still come into His Kingdom.  The world is watching and waiting Mathy.  "Wha'cha gon' do?"

May GOD's Grace, Mercy and Peace totally engulf you.  May GOD wrap you in His tender arms and whisper in your ear; "Baby come on home, I forgive you!"  That's what you daddy told you isn't it?  And you went on to blow a hole in his heart!  (Shame on you! Mathy Jane)

Remember; "Apart from Christ you are nothing!"
Rachel