The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

ZHUH DSSODXGLQJ DV ZLOGO\ DV WKH DXGLHQFH VKH LPSXOVLYHO\ WKUHZ ERWK

KHU DUPV URXQG PH DQG NLVVHG PH ZKLOH , VWUXJJOHG WR JHW DZD\

2QH GD\ D FRXSOH RI ZHHNV DIWHU P\ IDWKHU KDG EHHQ WR VHH XV D

ZDJRQ GURYH XS WR RXU FRWWDJH ORDGHG ZLWK D ELJ ER[ , ZDV DERXW WR WHOO

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

6KRUWO\ DIWHU WKLV , ZDV PDGH D PHPEHU RI WKH ER\V¶ FKRLU LW EHLQJ IRXQG WKDW , SRVVHVVHG D FOHDU VWURQJ VRSUDQR YRLFH , HQMR\HG WKH VLQJLQJYHU\PXFK$ERXWD\HDUODWHU,EHJDQWKHVWXG\RIWKH SLSH RUJDQ DQG WKH WKHRU\ RI PXVLF DQG EHIRUH , ILQLVKHG WKH JUDPPDU VFKRRO , KDG ZULWWHQ RXW VHYHUDO VLPSOH SUHOXGHV IRU RUJDQ ZKLFK ZRQ WKH DGPLUDWLRQ RI P\ WHDFKHU DQG ZKLFK KH GLG PH WKH KRQRU WR SOD\ DW VHUYLFHV

7KH ROGHU , JUHZ WKH PRUH WKRXJKW , JDYH WR WKH TXHVWLRQ RI P\

PRWKHU¶V DQG P\ SRVLWLRQ DQG ZKDW ZDV RXU H[DFW UHODWLRQ WR WKH ZRUOG

LQ JHQHUDO 0\ LGHD RI WKH ZKROH PDWWHU ZDV UDWKHU KD]\ 0\ VWXG\ RI

8QLWHG 6WDWHV KLVWRU\ KDG EHHQ FRQILQHG WR WKRVH SHULRGV ZKLFK ZHUH GHVLJQDWHGLQP\ERRNDV³'LVFRYHU\ ´³&RORQLDO ´³5HYROXWLRQDU\ ´ DQG ³&RQVWLWXWLRQDO ´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¶V &DELQ

7KLV ZRUN RI +DUULHW %HHFKHU 6WRZH KDV EHHQ WKH REMHFW RI PXFK XQIDYRUDEOHFULWLFLVP,WKDVEHHQDVVDLOHGQRWRQO\DVILFWLRQRIWKH PRVW LPDJLQDWLYH VRUW EXW DV EHLQJ D GLUHFW PLVUHSUHVHQWDWLRQ 6HYHUDO VXFFHVVIXO DWWHPSWV KDYH ODWHO\ EHHQPDGH WR GLVSODFH WKH ERRN IURP 1RUWKHUQ VFKRRO OLEUDULHV ,WV FULWLFV ZRXOG EUXVK LW DVLGH ZLWK WKH UHPDUN WKDW WKHUH QHYHU ZDV D 1HJUR DV JRRG DV 8QFOH 7RP QRU D VODYH KROGHU DV EDG DV /HJUHH )RU P\ SDUW , ZDV QHYHU DQ DGPLUHU RI 8QFOH 7RP QRU RI KLV W\SH RI JRRGQHVV EXW , EHOLHYH WKDW WKHUH ZHUH

ORWV RI ROG 1HJURHV DV IRROLVKO\ JRRG DV KH WKH SURRI RI ZKLFK LV WKDW WKH\ NQRZLQJO\ VWD\HG DQG ZRUNHG WKH SODQWDWLRQV WKDW IXUQLVKHG VLQHZV IRU WKH DUP\ ZKLFK ZDV ILJKWLQJ WR NHHS WKHP HQVODYHG %XW LQ WKHVH ODWHU \HDUV VHYHUDO FDVHV KDYH FRPH WR P\ SHUVRQDO NQRZOHGJH LQ ZKLFK ROG 1HJURHV KDYH GLHG DQG OHIW ZKDW ZDV D FRQVLGHUDEOH IRUWXQH WR WKH GHVFHQGDQWV RI WKHLU IRUPHU PDVWHUV , GR QRW WKLQN LW WDNHV DQ\ JUHDW VWUHWFK RI WKH LPDJLQDWLRQ WR EHOLHYH WKHUH ZDV D IDLUO\ ODUJH FODVV RI VODYH KROGHUV W\SLILHG LQ /HJUHH$QG ZH PXVW DOVR UHPHPEHU WKDW WKH DXWKRU GHSLFWHG D QXPEHU RI ZRUWKOHVV LI QRW YLFLRXV 1HJURHV DQG D VODYH KROGHU ZKR ZDV DV PXFK RI D &KULVWLDQ DQG D JHQWOHPDQ DV LW ZDV SRVVLEOH IRU RQH LQ KLV SRVLWLRQ WR EH WKDW VKH SLFWXUHG WKH KDSS\ VLQJLQJ VKXIIOLQJ ³GDUN\´ DV ZHOO DV WKH PRWKHU ZDLOLQJ IRU KHU FKLOG VROG ³GRZQ ULYHU ´

, GRQRW WKLQN LW LV FODLPLQJ WRR PXFK WRVD\ WKDW8QFOH 7RP¶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³ROG IRONV ´ :KDW VKH WROG PH LQWHUHVWHG DQG HYHQ IDVFLQDWHG PH DQG ZKDW PD\ VHHP VWUDQJH NLQGOHG LQ PH D VWURQJ GHVLUH WR VHH WKH 6RXWK 6KH VSRNH WR PH TXLWH IUDQNO\ DERXW KHUVHOI P\ IDWKHU DQG P\VHOI VKH WKH VHZLQJ JLUO RI P\ IDWKHU¶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

$OO RI WKHVH QHZO\ DZDNHQHG LGHDV DQG WKRXJKWV WRRN WKH IRUP RI D GHILQLWHDVSLUDWLRQRQWKHGD\,JUDGXDWHGIURPWKHJUDPPDUVFKRRO $QG ZKDW D GD\ WKDW ZDV 7KH JLUOV LQ ZKLWH GUHVVHV ZLWK IUHVK ULEERQV LQ WKHLU KDLU WKH ER\V LQ QHZ VXLWV DQG FUHDN\ VKRHV WKH JUHDW FURZG RI SDUHQWV DQG IULHQGV WKH IORZHUV WKH SUL]HV DQG FRQJUDWXODWLRQV PDGH WKH GD\ VHHP WR PH RQH RI WKH JUHDWHVW LPSRUWDQFH , ZDV RQ WKH

SURJUDP DQG SOD\HG D SLDQR VROR ZKLFK ZDV UHFHLYHG E\ WKH DXGLHQFH

ZLWK WKDW DPRXQW RI DSSODXVH ZKLFK , KDG FRPH WR ORRN XSRQ DV EHLQJ

RQO\ WKH MXVW GXH RI P\ WDOHQW

%XW WKH UHDO HQWKXVLDVP ZDV DURXVHG E\ ³6KLQ\ ´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¶V ³7RXVVDLQW /¶2XYHUWXUH ´ D VSHHFK ZKLFK PD\ QRZ EH FODVVHG DV UKHWRULFDO HYHQ SHUKDSV ERPEDVWLF EXW DV WKH ZRUGV IHOO IURP ³6KLQ\¶V´ OLSV WKHLU HIIHFW ZDV PDJLFDO +RZ VR \RXQJ DQ RUDWRU FRXOG VWLU VR JUHDW HQWKXVLDVP ZDV WR EH ZRQGHUHG DW :KHQ LQ WKH IDPRXV SHURUDWLRQ KLV YRLFH WUHPEOLQJ ZLWK VXSSUHVVHG HPRWLRQ URVH KLJKHU DQG KLJKHU DQG WKHQ UHVWHG RQ WKH QDPH ³7RXVVDLQW /¶2XYHUWXUH ´ LW ZDV OLNH WRXFKLQJ DQ HOHFWULF EXWWRQ ZKLFK ORRVHG WKH SHQW XS IHHOLQJV RI KLV OLVWHQHUV 7KH\ DFWXDOO\ URVH WR KLP

, KDYH VLQFH NQRZQ RI FRORUHG PHQ ZKR KDYH EHHQ FKRVHQ DV FODVV

RUDWRUV LQ RXU OHDGLQJ XQLYHUVLWLHV RI RWKHUV ZKR KDYH SOD\HG RQ WKH YDUVLW\ IRRWEDOO DQG EDVHEDOO WHDPV RI FRORUHG VSHDNHUV ZKR KDYH DGGUHVVHG JUHDW ZKLWH DXGLHQFHV ,Q HDFK RI WKHVH LQVWDQFHV , EHOLHYH WKH PHQ ZHUH VWLUUHG E\ WKH VDPH HPRWLRQV ZKLFK DFWXDWHG ³6KLQ\´ RQ WKH GD\ RI KLV JUDGXDWLRQ DQG WRR LQ HDFK FDVH ZKHUH WKH HIIRUWV KDYH UHDFKHG DQ\ KLJK VWDQGDUG RI H[FHOOHQFH WKH\ KDYH EHHQ IROORZHG E\ WKH VDPH SKHQRPHQRQ RI HQWKXVLDVP , WKLQN WKH H[SODQDWLRQ RI WKH ODWWHU OLHV LQ ZKDW LV D EDVLF WKRXJK RIWHQ GRUPDQW SULQFLSOH RI WKH$QJOR 6D[RQ KHDUW ORYH RI IDLU SOD\ ³6KLQ\ ´ LW LV WUXH ZDV ZKDW LV VR FRPPRQ LQ KLV UDFH D QDWXUDO RUDWRU EXW , GRXEW WKDW DQ\ ZKLWH ER\ RI HTXDO WDOHQW FRXOG KDYH ZURXJKW WKH VDPH HIIHFW 7KH VLJKW RI WKDW ER\ JDOODQWO\ ZDJLQJ ZLWK SXQ\ EODFN DUPV VR XQHTXDO D EDWWOH WRXFKHG WKH GHHS VSULQJV LQ WKH KHDUWV RI KLV DXGLHQFH DQG WKH\ ZHUH VZHSW E\ D ZDYH RI V\PSDWK\ DQG DGPLUDWLRQ

%XW WKH HIIHFW XSRQ PH RI ³6KLQ\¶V´ VSHHFK ZDV GRXEOH , QRW RQO\

VKDUHG WKH HQWKXVLDVP RI KLV DXGLHQFH EXW KH LPSDUWHG WR PH VRPH RI

KLV RZQ HQWKXVLDVP , IHOW OHDS ZLWKLQ PH SULGH WKDW , ZDV FRORUHG DQG ,

EHJDQ WR IRUP ZLOG GUHDPV RI EULQJLQJ JORU\ DQG KRQRU WR WKH 1HJUR

UDFH )RU GD\V , FRXOG WDON RI QRWKLQJ HOVH ZLWK P\ PRWKHU H[FHSW P\

DPELWLRQV WR EH D JUHDW PDQ D JUHDW FRORUHG PDQ WR UHIOHFW FUHGLW RQ WKHUDFHDQGJDLQIDPHIRUP\VHOI ,WZDVQRWXQWLO\HDUVDIWHUWKDW , IRUPXODWHG D GHILQLWH DQG IHDVLEOH SODQ IRU UHDOL]LQJ P\ GUHDPV

,HQWHUHGWKHKLJKVFKRROZLWK P\FODVVDQGVWLOOFRQWLQXHGP\ VWXG\ RI WKH SLDQR WKH SLSH RUJDQ DQG WKH WKHRU\ RI PXVLF , KDG WR GURS RXW RI WKH ER\V¶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¶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¶V FKRLFH WKH ILUVW WKDW DW +DUYDUG RU <DOH , VKRXOG EH QHDU KHU WKH VHFRQG WKDW P\ IDWKHU KDG SURPLVHG WR SD\ IRU D SDUW RI P\ FROOHJH HGXFDWLRQ

%RWK ³6KLQ\´ DQG ³5HG´ FDPH WR P\ KRXVH TXLWH RIWHQ RI HYHQLQJV DQG ZH XVHG WR WDON RYHU RXU SODQV DQG SURVSHFWV IRU WKH IXWXUH 6RPHWLPHV , ZRXOG SOD\ IRU WKHP DQG WKH\ VHHPHG WR HQMR\ WKH PXVLF YHU\ PXFK 0\ PRWKHU RIWHQ SUHSDUHG VXQGU\ 6RXWKHUQ GLVKHV IRU WKHP ZKLFK , DP QRW VXUH EXW WKDW WKH\ HQMR\HG PRUH ³6KLQ\´ KDG

DQ XQFOH LQ$PKHUVW 0DVV DQG KH H[SHFWHG WR OLYH ZLWK KLP DQG ZRUN KLV ZD\ WKURXJK$PKHUVW &ROOHJH ³5HG´ GHFODUHG WKDW KH KDG HQRXJK RI VFKRRO DQG WKDW DIWHU KH JRW KLV KLJK VFKRRO GLSORPD KH ZRXOG JHW D SRVLWLRQ LQ D EDQN ,W ZDV KLV DPELWLRQ WR EHFRPH D EDQNHU DQG KH IHOW VXUH RI JHWWLQJ WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WKURXJK FHUWDLQ PHPEHUV RI KLV IDPLO\

0\ PRWKHU EDUHO\ KDG VWUHQJWK WR DWWHQG WKH FORVLQJ H[HUFLVHV RI

WKH KLJK VFKRRO ZKHQ , JUDGXDWHG DQG DIWHU WKDW GD\ VKH ZDV VHOGRP

RXW RI EHG 6KH FRXOG QR ORQJHU GLUHFW KHU ZRUN DQG XQGHU WKH H[SHQVH

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

2QH QLJKW QHDU WKH HQG RI-XO\ DIWHU , KDG EHHQ ZDWFKLQJ EHVLGH KHU IRU VRPH KRXUV , ZHQW LQWR WKH SDUORU DQG WKURZLQJ P\VHOI LQWR WKH ELJ DUP FKDLU GR]HG RII LQWR D ILWIXO VOHHS , ZDV VXGGHQO\ DURXVHG E\ RQH RI WKH QHLJKERUV ZKR KDG FRPH LQ WR VLW ZLWK KHU WKDW QLJKW 6KH VDLG ³&RPH WR \RXU PRWKHU DW RQFH ´ , KXUULHG XSVWDLUV DQG DW WKH EHGURRP GRRU PHW WKH ZRPDQ ZKR ZDV DFWLQJ DV QXUVH , QRWHG ZLWK D GLVVROYLQJKHDUWWKHVWUDQJHORRNRIDZHRQKHUIDFH)URP P\ILUVW JODQFH DW P\ PRWKHU , GLVFHUQHG WKH OLJKW RI GHDWK XSRQ KHU FRXQWHQDQFH , IHOO XSRQ P\ NQHHV EHVLGH WKH EHG DQG EXU\LQJ P\ IDFH LQ WKH VKHHWV VREEHG FRQYXOVLYHO\ 6KH GLHG ZLWK WKH ILQJHUV RI KHU OHIW KDQG HQWZLQHG LQ P\ KDLU

, ZLOO QRW UDNH RYHU WKLV RQH RI WKH WZR VDFUHG VRUURZV RI P\ OLIH

QRU FRXOG , GHVFULEH WKH IHHOLQJ RI XQXWWHUDEOH ORQHOLQHVV WKDW IHOO XSRQ PH$IWHU WKH IXQHUDO , ZHQW WR WKH KRXVH RI P\ PXVLF WHDFKHU KH KDG NLQGO\RIIHUHGPHWKHKRVSLWDOLW\RIKLV KRPHIRUVRORQJDV , PLJKW QHHG LW$IHZ GD\V ODWHU , PRYHG P\ WUXQN SLDQR P\ PXVLF DQG PRVW RI P\ ERRNV WR KLV KRPH WKH UHVW RI P\ ERRNV , GLYLGHG EHWZHHQ ³6KLQ\´ DQG ³5HG ´ 6RPH RI WKH KRXVHKROG HIIHFWV , JDYH WR ³6KLQ\¶V´ PRWKHU DQG WR WZR RU WKUHH RI WKH QHLJKERUV ZKR KDG EHHQ NLQG WR XV GXULQJ P\ PRWKHU¶V LOOQHVV WKH RWKHUV , VROG$IWHU VHWWOLQJ XS P\ OLWWOH HVWDWH,IRXQGWKDWEHVLGHVDJRRGVXSSO\RIFORWKHVDSLDQRVRPH ERRNV DQG WULQNHWV , KDG DERXW WZR KXQGUHG GROODUV LQ FDVK

7KH TXHVWLRQ RI ZKDW , ZDV WR GR QRZ FRQIURQWHG PH 0\ WHDFKHU

VXJJHVWHG D FRQFHUW WRXU EXW ERWK RI XV UHDOL]HG WKDW , ZDV WRR ROG WR EH

H[SORLWHG DV DQ LQIDQW SURGLJ\ DQG WRR \RXQJ DQG LQH[SHULHQFHG WR JR EHIRUH WKH SXEOLF DV D ILQLVKHG DUWLVW +H KRZHYHU LQVLVWHG WKDW WKH SHRSOH RI WKH WRZQ ZRXOG JHQHURXVO\ SDWURQL]H D EHQHILW FRQFHUW VR KH

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

, ZDV GRZQ RQ WKH SURJUDP IRU RQH QXPEHU 0\ VHOHFWLRQ PLJKW KDYH DSSHDUHG DW WKDW SDUWLFXODU WLPH DV D ELW RI DIIHFWDWLRQ EXW , FRQVLGHUHG LW GHHSO\ DSSURSULDWH , SOD\HG %HHWKRYHQ¶V ³6RQDWD 3DWKpWLTXH ´ :KHQ , VDW GRZQ DW WKH SLDQR DQG JODQFHG LQWR WKH IDFHV RI WKHVHYHUDOKXQGUHGVRISHRSOHZKRZHUHWKHUHVROHO\RQDFFRXQWRI ORYH RU V\PSDWK\ IRU PH HPRWLRQV VZHOOHG LQ P\ KHDUW ZKLFK HQDEOHG PH WR SOD\ WKH ³3DWKpWLTXH´ DV , FRXOG QHYHU DJDLQ SOD\ LW :KHQ WKH ODVW WRQH GLHG DZD\ WKH IHZ ZKR EHJDQ WR DSSODXG ZHUH KXVKHG E\ WKH VLOHQFH RI WKH RWKHUV DQG IRU RQFH , SOD\HG ZLWKRXW UHFHLYLQJ DQ HQFRUH

7KH EHQHILW \LHOGHG PH D OLWWOH PRUH WKDQ WZR KXQGUHG GROODUV WKXV

UDLVLQJ P\ FDVK FDSLWDO WR DERXW IRXU KXQGUHG GROODUV , VWLOO KHOG WR P\

GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI JRLQJ WR FROOHJH VR LW ZDV QRZ D TXHVWLRQ RI WU\LQJ WR VTXHH]H WKURXJK D \HDU DW +DUYDUG RU JRLQJ WR $WODQWD ZKHUH WKH PRQH\ , KDG ZRXOG SD\ P\ DFWXDO H[SHQVHV IRU DW OHDVW WZR \HDUV 7KH SHFXOLDU IDVFLQDWLRQ ZKLFK WKH 6RXWK KHOG RYHU P\ LPDJLQDWLRQ DQG P\ OLPLWHG FDSLWDO GHFLGHG PH LQ IDYRU RI$WODQWD 8QLYHUVLW\ VR DERXW WKH ODVW RI 6HSWHPEHU , EDGH IDUHZHOO WR WKH IULHQGV DQG VFHQHV RI P\ ER\KRRG DQG ERDUGHG D WUDLQ IRU WKH 6RXWK

,9

7KH IDUWKHU , JRW EHORZ :DVKLQJWRQ WKH PRUH GLVDSSRLQWHG , EHFDPH LQ WKH DSSHDUDQFH RI WKH FRXQWU\ , SHHUHG WKURXJK WKH FDU ZLQGRZV ORRNLQJ LQ YDLQ IRU WKH OX[XULDQW VHPL WURSLFDO VFHQHU\ ZKLFK , KDG SLFWXUHG LQ P\ PLQG , GLG QRW ILQG WKH JUDVV VR JUHHQ QRU WKH ZRRGV VR EHDXWLIXO QRU WKH IORZHUV VR SOHQWLIXO DV WKH\ ZHUH LQ &RQQHFWLFXW,QVWHDGWKHUHGHDUWKSDUWO\FRYHUHGE\WRXJKVFUDZQ\ JUDVV WKH PXGG\ VWUDJJOLQJ URDGV WKH FRWWDJHV RI XQSDLQWHG SLQH ERDUGV DQG WKH FOD\ GDXEHG KXWV LPSDUWHG D ³EXUQW XS´ LPSUHVVLRQ 2FFDVLRQDOO\ ZH UDQ WKURXJK D OLWWOH ZKLWH DQG JUHHQ YLOODJH WKDW ZDV OLNH DQ RDVLV LQ D GHVHUW

:KHQ , UHDFKHG $WODQWD P\ VWHDGLO\ LQFUHDVLQJ GLVDSSRLQWPHQW ZDV QRW OHVVHQHG , IRXQG LW D ELJ GXOO UHG WRZQ 7KLV GXOO UHG FRORU RI WKDW SDUW RI WKH 6RXWK , ZDV WKHQ VHHLQJ KDG PXFK , WKLQN WR GR ZLWK WKH H[WUHPH GHSUHVVLRQ RI P\ VSLULWV QR SXEOLF VTXDUHV QR IRXQWDLQV GLQJ\ VWUHHW FDUV DQG ZLWK WKH H[FHSWLRQ RI WKUHH RU IRXU SULQFLSDO WKRURXJKIDUHV XQSDYHG VWUHHWV ,W ZDV UDLQLQJ ZKHQ , DUULYHG DQG VRPH

RIWKHVHXQSDYHGVWUHHWVZHUHDEVROXWHO\LPSDVVDEOH:KHHOVVDQNWR WKH KXEV LQ UHG PLUH DQG , DFWXDOO\ VWRRG IRU DQ KRXU DQG ZDWFKHG IRXU RU ILYH PHQ ZRUN WR VDYH D PXOH ZKLFK KDG VWHSSHG LQWR D GHHS VLQN IURP GURZQLQJ RU UDWKHU VXIIRFDWLQJ LQ WKH PXG 7KH$WODQWD RI WRGD\ LV D QHZ FLW\

2QWKHWUDLQ,KDGWDONHGZLWKRQHRIWKH3XOOPDQFDUSRUWHUV D EULJKW \RXQJ IHOORZ ZKR ZDV KLPVHOI D VWXGHQW DQG WROG KLP WKDW , ZDV JRLQJ WR$WODQWD WR DWWHQG VFKRRO , KDG DOVR DVNHG KLP WR WHOO PH ZKHUH ,PLJKWVWRSIRUD GD\RUWZRXQWLOWKH8QLYHUVLW\RSHQHG +HVDLG, PLJKW JR ZLWK KLP WR WKH SODFH ZKHUH KH VWRSSHG GXULQJ KLV ³OD\ RYHUV´ LQ$WODQWD , JODGO\ DFFHSWHG KLV RIIHU DQG ZHQW ZLWK KLP DORQJ RQH RI WKRVHPXGG\VWUHHWVXQWLOZHFDPHWRDUDWKHUULFNHW\ORRNLQJIUDPH KRXVH ZKLFK ZH HQWHUHG 7KH SURSULHWRU RI WKH KRXVH ZDV D ELJ IDW JUHDV\ ORRNLQJ EURZQ VNLQ PDQ :KHQ , DVNHG KLP LI KH FRXOG JLYH PH DFFRPPRGDWLRQV KH ZDQWHG WR NQRZ KRZ ORQJ , ZRXOG VWD\ , WROG KLP SHUKDSV WZR GD\V QRW PRUH WKDQ WKUHH ,Q UHSO\ KH VDLG ³2K GDW¶V DOO ULJKW GHQ ´ DW WKH VDPH WLPH OHDGLQJ WKH ZD\ XS D SDLU RI FUHDN\ VWDLUV , IROORZHG KLP DQG WKH SRUWHU WR D URRP WKH GRRU RI ZKLFK WKH SURSULHWRU RSHQHG ZKLOH FRQWLQXLQJ LW VHHPHG KLV UHPDUN ³2K GDW¶V DOO ULJKW GHQ ´ E\ DGGLQJ ³<RX NLQ VOHHS LQ GDW FRW LQ GH FRUQHU GHU )LIW\ FHQWV SOHDVH ´7KHSRUWHULQWHUUXSWHG E\VD\LQJ³<RXQHHGQ¶WFROOHFWIURP KLPQRZKH¶VJRWDWUXQN ´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

, DVNHG KLP ZK\ LW ZDV WKDW WKH SURSULHWRU RI WKH KRXVH VHHPHG XQZLOOLQJ WR DFFRPPRGDWH PH IRU PRUH WKDQ D FRXSOH RI GD\V +H LQIRUPHG PH WKDW WKH PDQ UDQ D ORGJLQJ KRXVH HVSHFLDOO\ IRU 3XOOPDQ SRUWHUV DQG DV WKHLU VWD\V LQ WRZQ ZHUH QRW ORQJHU WKDQ RQH RU WZR QLJKWV LW ZRXOG LQWHUIHUH ZLWK KLV DUUDQJHPHQWV WR KDYH DQ\RQH VWD\ ORQJHU +H ZHQW RQ WR VD\ ³<RX VHH WKLV URRP LV IL[HG XS WR DFFRPPRGDWH IRXU PHQ DW D WLPH :HOO E\ NHHSLQJ D VRUW RI WDEOH RI WULSV LQ DQG RXW RI WKH PHQ DQG ZRUNLQJ WKHP OLNH FKHFNHUV KH FDQ

DFFRPPRGDWH ILIWHHQ RU VL[WHHQ LQ HDFK ZHHN DQG JHQHUDOO\ DYRLG KDYLQJ DQ HPSW\ EHG <RX KDSSHQ WR FDWFK D EHG WKDW ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ HPSW\ IRU D FRXSOH RI QLJKWV ´ , DVNHG KLP ZKHUH KH ZDV JRLQJ WR VOHHS +HDQVZHUHG ³,VOHHSLQWKDWRWKHUFRWWRQLJKWWRPRUURZQLJKW ,JR RXW ´ +H ZHQW RQ WR WHOO PH WKDW WKH PDQ ZKR NHSW WKH KRXVH GLG QRW VHUYH PHDOV DQG WKDW LI , ZDV KXQJU\ ZH ZRXOG JR RXW DQG JHW VRPHWKLQJ WR HDW

:H ZHQW LQWR WKH VWUHHW DQG LQ SDVVLQJ WKH UDLOURDG VWDWLRQ , KLUHG D

ZDJRQ WR WDNH P\ WUXQN WR P\ ORGJLQJ SODFH :H SDVVHG DORQJ XQWLO

ILQDOO\ ZH WXUQHG LQWR D VWUHHW WKDW VWUHWFKHG DZD\ XS DQG GRZQ KLOO

IRU D PLOH RU WZR DQG KHUH , FDXJKW P\ ILUVW VLJKW RI FRORUHG SHRSOH LQ

ODUJH QXPEHUV , KDG VHHQ OLWWOH VTXDGV DURXQG WKH UDLOURDG VWDWLRQV RQ

P\ ZD\ VRXWK EXW KHUH , VDZ D VWUHHW FURZGHG ZLWK WKHP 7KH\ ILOOHG

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³/DZG D PXVV\ ´ ³*¶ZDQ PDQ ´ ³%OHVV PD VRXO ´ ³/RRN KHDK FKLOH ´ 7KHVH SHRSOH WDONHG DQG ODXJKHG ZLWKRXW UHVWUDLQW ,Q IDFW WKH\ WDONHG VWUDLJKW IURP WKHLU OXQJV DQG ODXJKHG IURP WKH SLWV RI WKHLU VWRPDFKV$QG WKLV KHDUW\ ODXJKWHU ZDV RIWHQ MXVWLILHG E\ WKH GUROO KXPRU RI VRPH UHPDUN , SDXVHG ORQJ HQRXJK WR KHDU RQH PDQ VD\ WR DQRWKHU ³:DW¶V GH PDWWDK ZLG \RX DQ¶ \R¶ IU¶HQ¶ 6DP"´ DQG WKH RWKHU FDPH EDFN OLNH D IODVK ³0D IU¶HQ¶" +H PD IU¶HQ¶" 0DQ ,¶G JR WR KLV IXQHUDO MHV¶ GH VDPH DV ,¶G JR WR D PLQVWUHO VKRZ ´ , KDYH VLQFH OHDUQHG WKDW WKLV DELOLW\ WR ODXJK KHDUWLO\ LV LQ SDUW WKH VDOYDWLRQ RI WKH$PHULFDQ 1HJUR LW GRHV PXFK WR NHHS KLP IURP JRLQJ WKH ZD\ RI WKH ,QGLDQ

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¶W RSHQ D

SODFH ZKHUH UHVSHFWDEOH FRORUHG SHRSOH ZKR KDG PRQH\ FRXOG EH DFFRPPRGDWHG +H DQVZHUHG ³,W ZRXOGQ¶W SD\ DOO WKH UHVSHFWDEOH FRORUHG SHRSOH HDW DW KRPH DQG WKH IHZ ZKR WUDYHO JHQHUDOO\ KDYH IULHQGV LQ WKH WRZQV WR ZKLFK WKH\ JR ZKR HQWHUWDLQ WKHP ´ +H DGGHG ³2I FRXUVH \RX FRXOG JR LQ DQ\ SODFH LQ WKH FLW\ WKH\ ZRXOGQ¶W NQRZ \RX IURP ZKLWH ´

, VDW GRZQ ZLWK WKH SRUWHU DW RQH RI WKH WDEOHV EXW ZDV QRW KXQJU\

HQRXJK WR HDW ZLWK DQ\ UHOLVK ZKDW ZDV SXW EHIRUH PH 7KH IRRG ZDV

QRW EDGO\ FRRNHG EXW WKH LURQ NQLYHV DQG IRUNV QHHGHG WR EH VFUXEEHG

WKH SODWHV DQG GLVKHV DQG JODVVHV QHHGHG WR EH ZDVKHG DQG ZHOO GULHG ,

PLQFHG RYHU ZKDW , WRRN RQ P\ SODWH ZKLOH P\ FRPSDQLRQ DWH :KHQ

ZH ILQLVKHG ZH SDLG WKH ZDLWHU WZHQW\ FHQWV HDFK DQG ZHQW RXW :H

ZDONHG DURXQG XQWLO WKH OLJKWV RI WKH FLW\ ZHUH OLW 7KHQ WKH SRUWHU VDLG

WKDW KH PXVW JHW WR EHG DQG KDYH VRPH UHVW DV KH KDG QRW KDG VL[ KRXUV¶ VOHHS VLQFH KH OHIW-HUVH\ &LW\ , ZHQW EDFN WR RXU ORGJLQJ KRXVH ZLWK KLP

:KHQ , DZRNH LQ WKH PRUQLQJ WKHUH ZHUH EHVLGHV P\ QHZ IRXQG

IULHQG WZR RWKHU PHQ LQ WKH URRP DVOHHS LQ WKH GRXEOH EHG , JRW XS

DQG GUHVVHG P\VHOI YHU\ TXLHWO\ VR DV QRW WR DZDNH DQ\RQH , WKHQ GUHZ

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³+HOOR <RX¶UH JRLQJ RXW"´ , DQVZHUHG KLP ³<HV ´ ³2K ´ KH \DZQHG DJDLQ ³, JXHVV ,¶YH KDG HQRXJK VOHHS ZDLW D PLQXWH ,¶OO JR ZLWK \RX ´ )RU WKH LQVWDQW KLV IULHQGVKLS ERUHG DQG HPEDUUDVVHG PH , KDG YLVLRQV RI DQRWKHU PHDO LQ WKH JUHDV\ UHVWDXUDQW RI WKH GD\ EHIRUH +H PXVW KDYH GLYLQHG P\ WKRXJKWV IRU KH ZHQW RQ WR VD\ ³, NQRZ D ZRPDQ DFURVV WRZQ ZKR WDNHV D IHZ ERDUGHUV , WKLQN ZH FDQ JR RYHU WKHUH DQG JHW D JRRG EUHDNIDVW ´ :LWK D IHHOLQJ RI PLQJOHG IHDUV DQG GRXEWV UHJDUGLQJ ZKDW WKH EUHDNIDVW PLJKW EH , ZDLWHG XQWLO KH KDG GUHVVHG KLPVHOI

:KHQ , VDZ WKH QHDW DSSHDUDQFH RI WKH FRWWDJH ZH HQWHUHG P\ IHDUVYDQLVKHG DQG ZKHQ,VDZ WKHZRPDQ ZKR NHSW LW P\ GRXEWV IROORZHG WKH VDPH FRXUVH 6FUXSXORXVO\ FOHDQ LQ D VSRWOHVV ZKLWH DSURQ DQG FRORUHG KHDG KDQGNHUFKLHI KHU URXQG IDFH EHDPLQJ ZLWK PRWKHUO\ NLQGQHVV VKH ZDV SLFWXUHVTXHO\ EHDXWLIXO 6KH LPSUHVVHG PH DV RQH EURDG H[SDQVH RI KDSSLQHVV DQG JRRG QDWXUH ,Q D IHZ PLQXWHV VKH ZDV DGGUHVVLQJ PH DV ³FKLOH´ DQG ³KRQH\ ´ 6KH PDGH PH IHHO DV WKRXJK , VKRXOG OLNH WR OD\ P\ KHDG RQ KHU FDSDFLRXV ERVRP DQG JR WR VOHHS

$QG WKH EUHDNIDVW VLPSOH DV LW ZDV , FRXOG QRW KDYH KDG DW DQ\ UHVWDXUDQW LQ$WODQWD DW DQ\ SULFH 7KHUH ZDV IULHG FKLFNHQ DV LW LV IULHG

RQO\ LQ WKH 6RXWK KRPLQ\ ERLOHG WR WKH FRQVLVWHQF\ ZKHUH LW FRXOG EH

HDWHQ ZLWK D IRUN DQG ELVFXLWV VR OLJKW DQG IODN\ WKDW D IHOORZ ZLWK DQ\ DSSHWLWHDWDOOZRXOGKDYHQRGLIILFXOW\LQGLVSRVLQJRIHLJKW RUWHQ :KHQ , KDG ILQLVKHG , IHOW WKDW , KDG H[SHULHQFHG WKH UHDOL]DWLRQ RI DW OHDVW RQH RI P\ GUHDPV RI 6RXWKHUQ OLIH

'XULQJ WKH PHDO ZH IRXQG RXW IURP RXU KRVWHVV ZKR KDG WZR ER\V LQ VFKRRO WKDW $WODQWD 8QLYHUVLW\ RSHQHG RQ WKDW YHU\ GD\ , KDG VRPHKRZ PL[HG P\ GDWHV 0\ IULHQG WKH SRUWHU VXJJHVWHG WKDW , JR RXW WRWKH 8QLYHUVLW\DWRQFHDQGRIIHUHGWR ZDONRYHUDQGVKRZPH WKH ZD\ :H KDG WR ZDON EHFDXVH DOWKRXJK WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ ZDV QRW PRUH WKDQ WZHQW\ PLQXWHV¶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

, ZDONHG XS WR D JURXS RI VWXGHQWV DQG PDGH VRPH LQTXLULHV 7KH\

GLUHFWHG PH WR WKH SUHVLGHQW¶V RIILFH LQ WKH PDLQ EXLOGLQJ 7KH SUHVLGHQW

JDYH PH D FRUGLDO ZHOFRPH LW ZDV PRUH WKDQ FRUGLDO KH WDONHG WR PH

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

7KH VRXQGLQJ RI D EHOO KH WROG PH ZDV WKH VLJQDO IRU WKH VWXGHQWV

WR JDWKHU LQ WKH JHQHUDO DVVHPEO\ KDOO DQG KH DVNHG PH LI , ZRXOG JR

2I FRXUVH , ZRXOG 7KHUH ZHUH EHWZHHQ WKUHH DQG IRXU KXQGUHG VWXGHQWV DQG SHUKDSV DOO RI WKH WHDFKHUV JDWKHUHG LQ WKH URRP , QRWLFHG WKDW VHYHUDO RI WKH ODWWHU ZHUH FRORUHG 7KH SUHVLGHQW JDYH D WDON DGGUHVVHG