These are excerpts from the short story. I hope to have it completed and available for download by the end of December.
classwiki45
written by Gabriella Robinson
Ma Lil
Chapter One
The year was 1962 and Lil was almost one hundred. In fact tomorrow was Lil's birthday and she would turn 97. She had been born in 1865. However, she was not born a slave. She had been born after her parents had escaped from their owner. They were fleeing their plantation when she was born. Her mother and father had escaped together. All three had survived, Lil, her mother and father. If her parents did have other children who did not survive the escape or who remained on the plantation she did not know. Lil's life was certainly a life that had seen many changes. From escaping a plantation to witnessing the civil rights movement. One of Lil's grandchildren had enrolled at Harvard University and almost all of her grandchildren had attended college. If her husband had lived to see all of this he would have been so pleased and so proud. Lil had seen women gain the right to vote and drive. So much had happened. And she still could remember names , places and many of these events.
Tomorrow all of the children would gather to celebrate her birthday. They were coming to her
son's home in Massachusetts to spend time with her. Each birthday was so special now and so
important. Alexandria was coming from Atlanta; Julienne was in Los Angeles, Lucy, Charles and Steven were all in Massachusetts. Lucy came in the room to check her mother before she went to bed for the night. Lil was resting peacefully.
Chapter Two
The Birthday Celebration
Alexandria and Julienne would be arriving early in the morning. Lucy had planned everything with the help of her brothers. Lil was still full of energy and she had promised that she would be sitting up tomorrow to eat dinner with the children. Lil was certainly one person who gave new meaning to the phrase strong woman. When the doorbell rang Lucy jumped. It had been a year since, she had seen her sisters. She was so glad that it was a happy occasion and not a funeral or hospital emergency. Steven the youngest brother was coming in from a meeting with the Black Muslims. He had become drawn to the group through his son who became a muslim when he was incarcerated.
However, they had not become isolated from the other family members who remained Christians. Steven had some close friends who were Black Panthers but he had not joined any radical groups himself. Since his son was studying for his Ph.D. at Harvard he had met all of the political spectrum.
"It's so good to see you. Come in ! Where is Katie. Why didn't she come?" Julienne's youngest
daughter, Katie was expected to come with her mother and aunt; however, she had not. She had decided to stay at home and participate in a protest with some of her friends. Everyone, was concerned and hoped it would remain non violent. Today, you could not turn the television on without seeing a protest.
"Julienne, I need to get up now. I have to get ready". Ma was ready to eat her breakfast and get
dressed for her party. And everyone turned to go and greet her. "Happy birthday, mama! Charles you need to say a blessing to thank the Lord for the blessings we have received. How do you feel, mama are you okay?"The phone rang. Steven picked the phone up. " What ? Yes. Nathaniel is my son. No,
he was on his way to my home in Boston to celebrate his grandmother's birthday. Yes, he is in school in Florida. I do not know anything about a meeting this morning with a civil rights group. Why is he in jail?
Well, I will have to fly there to see him and bring him home. Well, I will get there as soon as
possible. I will need a couple of hours. Yes thank you."
Steven and Charles left the party. They called one of their good friends who was an attorney and headed to the airport.
Georgia
Charles was the oldest son and he had not been south in many years. His family left the south when he was very young and he did not return. Even when his son decided to attend school in Florida, he still did not return. So, this brought up emotions in him from all over. He had told Nathaniel many times not to participate in any civil rights activities while in Florida or anywhere in the South. It was dangerous and anyway he believed in defending himself. He did not believe in allowing someone to hit you and beat you without defending yourself. Blacks needed jobs, businesses help for their neighborhoods. How is all of this violence and nonviolence bringing this about?
When they reached the jail it was night. It was a small town in southern Georgia that he had never heard of. It was a town with long narrow road and no lights after dark. The type of place he had avoided as a small child. Why was Nathaniel here? "Where is my son ?"
"Sir, there was an accident ."
"An accident. What do you mean an accident."
"Who was involved and what happened?"
"Some of the students from nearby colleges were protesting. And they went in the drugstore to be served. When they came out there was pushing and shoving and a gun accidentally went off."
"Where is my son? Is he dead? I mean what happened?'
"No, sir he is not dead. He is at the hospital. One student was killed but it was not your son."
"Do his parents know. Not yet. We haven't notified them yet."
"We need to ask your son a few more questions and then you can take him home.page 1
