wholeworld

The Whole World is Watching, Sins of the Father, Visited on Sons

I think it's all connected, somehow. A written account of one man's slave experience. His name was Jack Maddox. He told about the nigger ring.

I discovered the narrative of Mr. Maddox about the same time as Columbine, about the same time as a shooting in my neighborhood. I saw the difference between the way the media covered Columbine and the way reporters covered the shooting in my neighborhood. One was a "tragedy," and the shooters "troubled teens." The other was expected, "gang related," "black on black crime," the shooters "thugs." I wondered about the difference.

I thought about unresolved blood and tears dripping down from one generation to the next.

In 2001, I was asked to participate in an exhibition hosted by the Afro American Museum in Boston, titled Jubilation. Jubilation to me is the ability to discuss -- through art -- history and its effects on our lives. The Museum phoned. They needed to return the piece. Children would visit the Museum. They weren't sure how to explain the word nigger. Today is January 6, 2005. It's taken me this long to post this piece, to honor Mr. Maddox and the inspiration of ancestors and dead children. If you'd like to join this discussion, please email below. I'll post COMMENTS HERE.