The recent event & all the posts back in forth in our costumed community has put me to thought. In the odd chance I ever get shot while doing what we do…let no one gloat “He got what he deserved.”
Damn right I did…Live by the Sword & Die by it too.
“Carve not with thy hours my love’s fair brow, … he live forever, but he will be eternally young, and the ravages of time will not touch him.”
-Shakespeare
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.
Despite being a natural fan of things heroic, if anyone’s at ” fault ” for this love it’s my late grandfather.
He passed along the reading gene that had him devouring Sunday newspapers as a boy in rural South Carolina. I would do the same years later in urban Georgia.
He read Superman and Batman in their debut comics!; along with pulp magazines featuring Doc Savage and the Shadow. The whole film noir epoch of detective movies and thrillers happened before his eyes as a young movie goer.
On his knee I learned a creed reminiscent of the Knights of the Roundtable and his beloved Prince Hall Shriners. Major advice includes:
* Don’t hit girls ( Later amended after one hit me first but to this day the amendment has never been acted upon. it just doesn’t seem right ).
* Keep your wits about you.
* They’ll make a train for you. Translation: Beware being railroaded in situations!
He was a retired math teacher who moved to Savannah’s Depression era Hood variously known as ” the Fort ” or ” Frogtown ” where fighting was a regular rite of passage.
A snubnosed .357 revolver often rode his hip when he’d go out at night. He preached being prepared and aware of one’s surroundings. It’s a major reason I’m a security consultant today.
Grand Dad always set the standard by being a jovial, concerned citizen who stayed informed about current events and provided encouragement for my interests.
Heroism as an interest wasn’t surprising with a grandfather whom cats would deliver kittens to and infants would cry loudly over leaving.
GrandDad had something special about him, just like the characters in our beloved fiction. For him, comics and pulps were entertainment. For me, they offered colorful blueprints for injecting the fantastic into life.
It’s his ” fault ” superheroes and heroism are lifelong passions and I thank him for this gift.
After all, he was my FIRST hero!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info .