Boxcar: Part 2
Based on oral histories.36 total reviews
Comment from Lovinia
Hello Andre
What a graphic account of some of your family history and the plight of so many African Americans. You manage to convey the horror and terror these people lived with, and died from. I'm so pleased that there were white people who had compassion and helped them out. As for the others, I feel ashamed to call myself white. Of course, in every race there are those, perhaps it's ignorance, a lack of compassion and learning who will find some way to express their hate. After all your own family line endured, it is remarkable that you've developed such a loving, compassionate soul. In all the stories I've read of yours, and especially those about race, I've never read, or heard one word of hate or bitterness, instead you choose to reach out and create awareness; yes it is important to know your history and to have it learned by other races.
Something I always squark about ... when will we learn?? Mama Jennie says it so aptly,
"Freddie, you have to give time time to change."
The world is so slow in turning, and sometimes, like in the present, it seems to be turning back. I feel impatient, but wise Jennie knew it takes time ...
I enjoyed the background part of your story and I think ending with Freddie's very real nightmare really hammers home your point. Why should a little boy like that have to live with segregation, and such cruelty? I note of interest that this happened in the West and North .. so not all racism confined to the South and the slave owners? Also of interest, which I didn't know, the propaganda (though quite true) the Americans treated their coloured population worse than the Germans treated the Jews. Hitler took racism to the extreme, though there were elements of his cruelty and POV in every country. Really a great story here ... much fodder for thought and learning. I enjoyed your notes - you could have posted them as a story in its own right. A clever touch with the owl, so sorry you had to re-live your ancestor's horror. Sleep and rest well. Told with all the warmth of heart I've come to expect from you dear friend. Huge hugs - Lovi xoxo.
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2016
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Hello Andre
What a graphic account of some of your family history and the plight of so many African Americans. You manage to convey the horror and terror these people lived with, and died from. I'm so pleased that there were white people who had compassion and helped them out. As for the others, I feel ashamed to call myself white. Of course, in every race there are those, perhaps it's ignorance, a lack of compassion and learning who will find some way to express their hate. After all your own family line endured, it is remarkable that you've developed such a loving, compassionate soul. In all the stories I've read of yours, and especially those about race, I've never read, or heard one word of hate or bitterness, instead you choose to reach out and create awareness; yes it is important to know your history and to have it learned by other races.
Something I always squark about ... when will we learn?? Mama Jennie says it so aptly,
"Freddie, you have to give time time to change."
The world is so slow in turning, and sometimes, like in the present, it seems to be turning back. I feel impatient, but wise Jennie knew it takes time ...
I enjoyed the background part of your story and I think ending with Freddie's very real nightmare really hammers home your point. Why should a little boy like that have to live with segregation, and such cruelty? I note of interest that this happened in the West and North .. so not all racism confined to the South and the slave owners? Also of interest, which I didn't know, the propaganda (though quite true) the Americans treated their coloured population worse than the Germans treated the Jews. Hitler took racism to the extreme, though there were elements of his cruelty and POV in every country. Really a great story here ... much fodder for thought and learning. I enjoyed your notes - you could have posted them as a story in its own right. A clever touch with the owl, so sorry you had to re-live your ancestor's horror. Sleep and rest well. Told with all the warmth of heart I've come to expect from you dear friend. Huge hugs - Lovi xoxo.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2016
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2016
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Yes, Lovinia, I slept well after I finished this. The owl has not hooted in the eucalyptus grove outside my bedroom for the last two mornings. Yes, it is very interesting that these incidents occurred in the North and West. I was shucked but not surprised that Hitler used as propaganda America's treatment of African Americans. It was as if he was saying, "How dare you holier than thou Americans wag your fingers at us Germans for what we are doing to the Jews. Look at what you are doing to your own black citizens." Roosevelt knew that our country's treatment of African Americans was a liability which would impede our war effort. His administration got serious about prosecuting lynchings and ending slave labor that lingered in the mines, fields, and factories of the South.
Thank you for your review.
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The owl may have been a spiritual advisor while you wrote the story. :)) Yes, I was surprised when you said West and North, I thought most of the racism was in the South. I guess there are elements everywhere, we done injustice to our own Aboriginal people. I hadn't heard about the WW11 and Hitler's tactics, I guess his campaign may have inadvertently made it a little better for the African American. It would have been nice if Roosevelt's administration had provided better on their own accord of justice and humanity. It's still a lot of years since the American Civil War, the movement of change is so slow. I think we are only making headway with our own black people now, still so far to go. If we can be friends and respect each other, I can't see why others are so slow to learn. Thank you for telling this history of your family, and yes, I have also read of many atrocities in your country and mine, it's no wonder you had nightmares. Sweet dreams now my friend. Huge hugs - Lovi xoxo
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Strange, that owl stopped hooting after I put that scene in the story and finished it. I am now getting sleeps and exercising again.
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I think we do have spirit guides that come to us in animal form. The sound of an owl can be eerie, though I get a thrill on the rare occasions I've heard one. It must have taken a lot out of you to research and write about such horror. Writing that story the way you did, I think takes humanitarianism at least one step further, it does take courage though. Well done my friend. Hugs - Lovi xoxox
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Yes, Lovinia, and the strange thing was that I had cut the nightmare scene from my story. The story was supposed to stop where Mama Jennie and Freddie talked about recent discrimination.
But that owl kept hooting outside my window at four in the morning, so I put the dream back in and wrote until dawn. I originally was going to write five hoots, but I listened to the owl who told told me three short hoots and one long one. The owl had the final word and I corrected her dialogue and finished the story with the dream sequence. I have not heard her since. After this story, I will be much more attuned to spirit guides in the guise of animals.
I discovered today the book "Masonic Abolitionists" which details that a Mason lodge in Illinois was active in the Underground Railroad before the Civil War, and their influence stretched to the surrounding states. If my hunch is true, the Masons that helped my ancestors were not ordinary Masons, but were former abolitionists and Underground Railroad conductors who took up a new cause of helping free blacks after the Civil War. This explains why the group was able to quickly and stealthily take my ancestors across the rivers and borders into neighboring states, had a safe house, and counter intelligence. How did the Masons come so quickly to rescue Elizabeth and Jennie when the mob stormed their house and tortured them? Answer, the Masons kept a lookout on the form nearby and a sizable number of armed men to turn back a mob. I began reading the book today to confirm my hunch.
Thank you again.
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Hi Andre
That owl certainly seemed to have some significance, you were right to pay attention. Freddie's dream is the perfect conclusion, it really bought the message home, though your earlier parts were graphic enough. Freddie's dream seemed to make the reader FEEL so much more connected, especially for a non-black reader like me. I know the horror of racism from what I read and hear on the news ... a little boy having a dream like that, and worse it came from truth and an actual happening... your words made it more real to me, as I can only imagine what it must feel, first from your ancestors actually living it, and in recent and current times, it still exists, so you still are attached in your own life. I experience it as our Aboriginals gain better health and education (finally) and have a stronger voice, now in Parliament and socially. It has been largely different for me because most of the native people live in the outskirts of country towns and are not really mixed in the cities and a small population really. Some live in the way of their ancestors and have their own land, many others are more assimilated and this is a good thing, but so much pain and sorrow has gone before it... we humans are slow learners. :(
Your book sound interesting. I've only had a peripheral knowledge of Masons. Some say they were a worthy group and aided many in a number of ways, others seem to feel they are tarnished and not what they appear to be. Just a few days ago, my ninety year old mother was telling me my Grandfather was a Mason and when he was dying of cancer they wanted to visit and then they wanted to bury him, but my grandmother wouldn't let them near him, even though he used to go to meetings regularly. I do seem to have a faint memory of the Masons involved in helping the slaves. Sounds like some interesting reading. I wish I had time to read everything I would like. Hugs - Lovi xoxox
Comment from robyn corum
Andre! What a story. I didn't read the first part because of the flag on it for sexual stuff, but I'm soooo glad I read this one. What an amazing talent you have -- although this story was hateful and despicable. I find it hard to believe that this is actually part of your own family history. Wow. People can be sooo unbelievably stupid sometimes.
Thanks for sharing. GREAT work!
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Andre! What a story. I didn't read the first part because of the flag on it for sexual stuff, but I'm soooo glad I read this one. What an amazing talent you have -- although this story was hateful and despicable. I find it hard to believe that this is actually part of your own family history. Wow. People can be sooo unbelievably stupid sometimes.
Thanks for sharing. GREAT work!
Comment Written 17-Apr-2016
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Yes, yes, yes, Robyn, this is part of my family history. "this story was hateful and despicable." Thanks for your review.
Comment from giraffmang
Hi Andre,
The indignities and horrors subjected to one group of people on another never cease to both amaze and disgust me. It is a disassociation thing. The de-humanising of groups. Stomach churning.
It is interesting here that it is not related with venom and bile but simply told - as that's how it was - mind-boggling.
The past is not the past. It will always follow you / It's we, and no other people, who hold the key to our own history and destiny- how true, for all.
I think I'll have to read that book you mentioned as well.
Good to have you posting again
G
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Hi Andre,
The indignities and horrors subjected to one group of people on another never cease to both amaze and disgust me. It is a disassociation thing. The de-humanising of groups. Stomach churning.
It is interesting here that it is not related with venom and bile but simply told - as that's how it was - mind-boggling.
The past is not the past. It will always follow you / It's we, and no other people, who hold the key to our own history and destiny- how true, for all.
I think I'll have to read that book you mentioned as well.
Good to have you posting again
G
Comment Written 17-Apr-2016
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Yes, G., I am glad you noticed "that it is not related with venom and bile but simply told." I am not interested in beating up or vilifying anyone about what happened in the past. I am just telling a story that has been passed down to me for 123 years.
That quote that you love was inspired by what my grandmother said to me after she told me the story of "Boxcar" in 1988. Do read the book.
Thank you for your generous, six star review.
Comment from trumby
I must admit that I didn't realize what a tough deal you African-Americans had back then. From what I hear, you're still having a tough trot at the moment.
Very well written mate.
I can imagine a lot of storytelling time going into this story.
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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I must admit that I didn't realize what a tough deal you African-Americans had back then. From what I hear, you're still having a tough trot at the moment.
Very well written mate.
I can imagine a lot of storytelling time going into this story.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2016
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Yes, trumbly, a lot of storytelling time went into this story which has been told by my family for 123 years. I am glad our story helped you "realize what a tough deal you African-Americans had back then." Thank you for your review.
Comment from mfowler
The story takes a deep and disturbing turn as we find Tom burned by the whitecaps. Fortunately, the Freemason helped them all escape only to lose Tom to his wounds. But, the trouble continued when the whitecaps found them to find Fred's body. Once again their benefactors got the women to safer shores. Your story becomes seriously scary when young Freddie dreams of a visit from the Klan as they chase him home after crossing the Mojave River. The dream is made even more tense by the repeated hooting of an owl, a kind of portent. This is a very well written piece, terrible in its truth, and riveting in its writing.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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The story takes a deep and disturbing turn as we find Tom burned by the whitecaps. Fortunately, the Freemason helped them all escape only to lose Tom to his wounds. But, the trouble continued when the whitecaps found them to find Fred's body. Once again their benefactors got the women to safer shores. Your story becomes seriously scary when young Freddie dreams of a visit from the Klan as they chase him home after crossing the Mojave River. The dream is made even more tense by the repeated hooting of an owl, a kind of portent. This is a very well written piece, terrible in its truth, and riveting in its writing.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2016
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Thank you, mfowler, for your review. I appreciate your comment that "This is a very well written piece, terrible in its truth, and riveting in its writing."
Comment from way2gokevs
This is a historical story of what everyone of us try to forget. Your story is vivid and leaves nothing to the imagination, flows along nicely and creates a picture in one's mind of the great injustices that befalls the human race. Very well written my friend and thanks for sharing a pleasure to review. Cheers Kev
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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This is a historical story of what everyone of us try to forget. Your story is vivid and leaves nothing to the imagination, flows along nicely and creates a picture in one's mind of the great injustices that befalls the human race. Very well written my friend and thanks for sharing a pleasure to review. Cheers Kev
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Apr-2016
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2016
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Yes, Kev, "This is a historical story of what everyone of us try to forget," but I am grateful that my family told this story for 123 years before I wrote it down in 1988 followed by my mother and stepmother writing down their versions as well. We never forgot. Thank you for your review.
