GRAND DAD: RLSH.
- Capt. Black
It’s small wonder I admire big, larger-than-life men like Paul Robeson and Teddy Roosevelt. After all, I was raised by one!
Earl Winthrop DeVeaux ( hereafter ” Grand Dad ” ) was my version of Clark Savage, Sr., the father and trainer of pulp icon Doc Savage. He raised me with a moral code reminiscent of the Knights of The Round Table and his beloved Prince Hall Masonic Lodge.
Grand Dad wasn’t a Bible thumper. He said his prayers every night before going to bed but didn’t demagogue about it. He was a strong moderate who preached intellectual curiosity and respect for diversity.
He had a great sense of humor and ability to walk in many worlds: farmer; inner city resident; first college graduate in his family; public school teacher; college educator; the list stretched on and on.
His love of heroic fiction obviously rubbed off on me. Stories about reading first editions of classics like the Shadow; Doc Savage; the Avenger; Superman; Batman and others just fueled my raging interest in these genres. Whether it was just entertainment for him, it was an activist blue print for me!
Grand Dad ( and notably Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee ) made me believe a dreamer from midtown Savannah, GA. could stand up for the little man and be a knight, even without the shining armor. All the negatives ( Jim Crow; the Depression; a world war/two police actions and crack’s attack on the Hood ) didn’t diminish his belief in a life fantastic.
Telling me it was okay to dream and chase those dreams is why Grand Dad is a real life superhero to me!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT BLACK promotes finding your “super” through creative crime prevention; homeless out reach and political activism. (504) 214-3082.
Knight-Hood
Wow! You are a very lucky man. I wish I would have had a strong male role model in real life to look up to like that. I spent most of my time with my mother and reading comics in my basement. Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne and the rest became my fictional role models. I guess I identified the most with Peter Parker who had his doting aunt, who reminded me of my mother. Because super-heroes never smoked, drank or did drugs then neither did I. I often wonder if Stan Lee has any idea of just what impact his comics had on boys like me? A very moving tale, thanks for sharing. Knight-Hood