A History of the African-American People (Proposed) by Strom Thurmond by Percival Everett, James Kincaid Page B
Authors: Percival Everett, James Kincaid
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rather informal history, factually accurate without being dull. It should be relatively discontinuous, not concerned with filling in every little nook and cranny, but concentrating on those areas the Senator regards as vital, which are generally those in which he has played a part. It should emphasize the Senator’s role in the shaping of this country and the strong position now enjoyed by African American people. In that sense, it is what we might call a history of a man, which enfolds the history of a race, which charts the history of a country. I have no objection if you use that sentence early on in the book to explain what it is, though of course I expect full credit.
—Politics will play a part. I don’t want you telling me that there is no such thing as objectivity, since I’ve heard all that post-structuralist stuff and heartily embrace it. Of course the history will be political, through and through. The Senator is, as you know, a Republican, was the leader of the powerful third party movement in the 40s, and was previously a Democrat. But it’s not politics in the sense of party that we’re talking about. You don’t need to tell me that. I know it. We are talking more about what I like to call “ideology,” and that is harder to get at and more pervasive. The Senator’s ideology is, for the time being, my own. That is a bald statement but true, which leads us to—
—the question of the flow of information. Since I have adopted the same set of assumptions and operating procedures (that’s what “ideology” means) as the Senator, there really is, as I keep saying, no need to getting panty-wads over dealing with me. I don’t represent him. I AM he, in this sense, the only sense that, one might say, makes sense for us. Of course our experiences have been different and our life spans vary considerably, as do our families, hobbies, and taste in modes of outdoor recreation. Still, when it comes to writing a history of the African-American people, as an overflow of the Senator’s life and times, I think you will get from me exactly what you would get from him. I have tried to be patient on this point, but I do not know how many different ways I can say this and do hope this is the last time we will have to do karate chops on the loins of this tiresome subject.
Not wanting to ignore anything in your letter, from the most important obfuscation to the faintest whine, I move now to the questions you raise about the materials I have been kindly supplying you. It seems that you—both of you? just the white one?—resent what you regard as “writing exercises,” as if I were a high-school composition teacher and you were both 16-year-old studs in low-slung baggy pants with your undies showing above. Please understand that these materials are just that—materials for the history. They are not meant as a test. If it helps, I am willing to say that I trust you—either or both of you—to know what you are doing as regards research and writing a rough draft. Polishing is another matter, but we’ll even waive that for now.
So, do know and wholeheartedly believe that I am not testing you. Find calm and peace and stop fretting. Go to a Japanese garden if there is one close or, if not, buy yourselves two of those little gray sand things that come in a box and are complete with the tiny rakey wooden scratchers and take them home and make lines and curvy patterns. Very restful, I hear. If you cannot afford two, buy one and share. I think, though, they are quite reasonable. You do have Japanese where you live, if I’m not mistaken. Tidy people.
Don’t forget the photos and try to find happiness. Do you two take Thanksgiving dinner together?
Love,
Baabaa
F ROM THE D ESK OF P ERCIVAL E VERETT
November 20, 2002
Jim:
Well, the mails are working fast—or Wilkes misdated his letter. You got it too, right? And the one from Martin? And the one from McCloud?
I hope you aren’t all red in the face and yelling.
—Politics will play a part. I don’t want you telling me that there is no such thing as objectivity, since I’ve heard all that post-structuralist stuff and heartily embrace it. Of course the history will be political, through and through. The Senator is, as you know, a Republican, was the leader of the powerful third party movement in the 40s, and was previously a Democrat. But it’s not politics in the sense of party that we’re talking about. You don’t need to tell me that. I know it. We are talking more about what I like to call “ideology,” and that is harder to get at and more pervasive. The Senator’s ideology is, for the time being, my own. That is a bald statement but true, which leads us to—
—the question of the flow of information. Since I have adopted the same set of assumptions and operating procedures (that’s what “ideology” means) as the Senator, there really is, as I keep saying, no need to getting panty-wads over dealing with me. I don’t represent him. I AM he, in this sense, the only sense that, one might say, makes sense for us. Of course our experiences have been different and our life spans vary considerably, as do our families, hobbies, and taste in modes of outdoor recreation. Still, when it comes to writing a history of the African-American people, as an overflow of the Senator’s life and times, I think you will get from me exactly what you would get from him. I have tried to be patient on this point, but I do not know how many different ways I can say this and do hope this is the last time we will have to do karate chops on the loins of this tiresome subject.
Not wanting to ignore anything in your letter, from the most important obfuscation to the faintest whine, I move now to the questions you raise about the materials I have been kindly supplying you. It seems that you—both of you? just the white one?—resent what you regard as “writing exercises,” as if I were a high-school composition teacher and you were both 16-year-old studs in low-slung baggy pants with your undies showing above. Please understand that these materials are just that—materials for the history. They are not meant as a test. If it helps, I am willing to say that I trust you—either or both of you—to know what you are doing as regards research and writing a rough draft. Polishing is another matter, but we’ll even waive that for now.
So, do know and wholeheartedly believe that I am not testing you. Find calm and peace and stop fretting. Go to a Japanese garden if there is one close or, if not, buy yourselves two of those little gray sand things that come in a box and are complete with the tiny rakey wooden scratchers and take them home and make lines and curvy patterns. Very restful, I hear. If you cannot afford two, buy one and share. I think, though, they are quite reasonable. You do have Japanese where you live, if I’m not mistaken. Tidy people.
Don’t forget the photos and try to find happiness. Do you two take Thanksgiving dinner together?
Love,
Baabaa
F ROM THE D ESK OF P ERCIVAL E VERETT
November 20, 2002
Jim:
Well, the mails are working fast—or Wilkes misdated his letter. You got it too, right? And the one from Martin? And the one from McCloud?
I hope you aren’t all red in the face and yelling.
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