A Journey into Mississippis Dark Past - Essay Example

"Ever is a Long Time" A Journey into Mississippi's Dark Past, by W. Ralph Eubanks Eubanks throughout his entire childhood and until he had a family has always assumed what he enjoyed, and experienced under his caring parents was universally evident among all the Mississippians. His parents contrary to numerous parents by then and especially the adults, they did enjoy the “privilege” of the educated few who could at least undertake some of the jobs that were for whites like teaching. Conversely, they did not have the same salary as the whites owing to the segregation, which was evident by then, and whose main argument contend “……segregation is best "for the dignity and progress of both races” (Eubanks 85). This is a shock to the Eubanks, who has come to know the absolute truth regarding his childhood situation and what the Mississippians endured. The situation dawns on him when he dares to search the truth after his six-year-old Patrick inquires from him about his far way native “home place”. Eubanks was reluctant in telling the child a lie or amorphous story. Since, this would plunge Patrick in the same situation he was owing to his parents lacking to unveil to him what they underwent during their childhood stage with her sisters. Eubanks’ notion since childhood that, all was well was a misconception, since his parents pretended and shielded them from segregating environment, though; themselves they were victims despite their education (Eubanks 5). Probably, the decision they took meant to shun any negative impacts that would affect their children’s growth and how they interact with other children who may not be emanating from their race. Eubanks since childhood until he managed to get out of Mississippi for higher learning, he had never doubted the character of their parents. The utter surprise emerges when he unveils his parents’ involvement in civil rights’ agitation and “were proud card-carrying NAACP members and supported the movement actively, yet quietly” (Eubanks 79). However, their actions were not that vigorous like other activists since “Warren and Lucille Eubanks weren't marching the streets of Jackson or in small Delta towns, but even their smallest activities were deemed worthy of being watched by the state” (Eubanks 81). This was a total contrast to what Eubanks believed their parents were, though, in early childhood, he had seen some reactions during the broadcasting of Kennard's death over the TV (Eubanks 91). Conversely, during this incident, he did not ask anything regarding the reactions he witnessed both from the people who were around him and the white children’s shouts from a passing by bus. Consequently, he had preferred while living outside the Mississippi as an adult continue, “…to keep the monsters in the closet” (Eubanks 77-78). His conclusion after discovering the parents’ involvement in civil right’s agitation from the few documents he accessed was an utter avoidance of the necessary truth. Eubanks’ parents were under the strict surveillance of Sovereignty Commission together with other 87,000 people (Eubanks 85). Sovereignty Commission viewed them to be the enlightened cream whose intentions were to push for the agitation of the African American rights and equal treatment. Hence, implementation of constant spying by Sovereignty Commission especially people’s actions and more so their interactions mainly on those people whom it deemed were wanting and threat the comfort, which the whites they were enjoying through segregation. However, the little evidence and information, which Eubanks unveils from the Sovereignty Commission files he came to understand exactly why his parents had preferred a “tight-lipped” choice (Eubanks 82). This was due to his mother’s backgrounds where they were shunning segregation and other related ill treatments. Therefore, this prompted Eubanks’ parents constantly wage war while under the Sovereignty Commission’s spying, though, mostly did not assume an active part in the entire scenario divergent to their son’s conception that, his parents were not involved in rights’ agitation (Eubanks 81). Eubanks’ marriage had also encountered its share of segregation, which he was not even aware or anticipated that it would happen to him. This lies especially to the choice of his spouse who emanates from other race than the Mississippians where while, in the country, they were almost ran over by a vehicle. They also came to utter treatment owing to miscegenation Laws where the innkeeper after recognizing that he was a native Mississippian, her reaction towards them changed. She wore a face suggesting, “ you should know better than this”. This leaves him wondering what treatment his children will receive when they happen to tour his “home place” which they have inquired much about it. Eubanks despite his long stay outside Mississippi; he was not expecting the treatment he received even to the point of terminating him from existence. He reveals to his sons with bewilderment that at one incident, owing to abounding segregation in Mississippi almost prompted natives to kill him since he loved mother of his children. This puzzles him most to an equal state similar to children who could not understand how Mississippi is thus wondering whether the past is still haunting his native and beloved “home place”. Finally, after a meticulous search coupled with long soul-searching, Eubanks was able to answer Patrick’s question adequately regarding Mississippi besides his home place becoming clear to him. He contends that, Mississippi is “volatile” besides possessing “dizzyingly” multifaceted “social and cultural layers” (Eubanks 202). This implies that, his home place comprises of the “past”, “present”, “sacred” and “sacrilegious” notions or actions, which normally co-exist. Hence, implying despite the changes that have happened and some individuals have embraced them; still there are those whom have not undergone meticulous revolution. Therefore, these few elements still view other humans based on segregation lines where the skin color dominates. Eubanks’ home, though, he could locate its place in Mississippi, it offers no comfort at all. Since, the “Ghosts of the past” persistently haunted him (Eubanks 202). The “Ghosts” comprised former segregation perceptions, which the society held where after marrying from another race, he is equal to an outcast. These imperfections were beyond the Eubanks’ control and have to accept them, but insist on informing his children regarding some of the segregation evils he has encountered in Mississippi. This is because he does not want to act the way his parents did, where he came to realize it later via intensive research and interviews from unwilling persons what they were besides the then situational temperature. Work Cited Top of Form Eubanks, Ralph, W. Ever Is a Long Time: A Journey into Mississippi's Dark Past, a Memoir. New York: Basic Books, 2005. Print. Bottom of Form Read More