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ANCESTORS,
THE LIVING AND THE YET TO BE BORN
SHORT
STORIES
AND
NOVELLAS
Over the last 2 years, I have been
writing a series of short stories, my first novel, commentaries
and philosophical views on myself and some of the experiences in
my life. I have been
given the opportunity to do some writing.
I am not a professional writer, by any means.
I am just a guy with some thoughts, ideas, observations and
some concerns. I
was thinking, why would anyone want to read what I’ve got to
say? Maybe no
one will and I’m sure you will let me know.
I have always looked at myself as being one of the luckiest
men on earth, because of the experiences and opportunities God has
given me. Now I have
an opportunity to express some of the many experiences in my life
and I’m going to take advantage of it.
I’m not bragging, grandstanding or trying to express some
elite mentality. I’ve
just got some thoughts in my head and I need to talk about them
with someone other than my wife.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have “walked with Kings
and talked to the humblest of men”.
So be patient with me while I attempt to talk to you about
this thing called the “American Dream” from what I think is a
unique perspective.
All of my short stories are from my
own experiences. The
comments, attitudes, observations and concerns are all Jim Chones.
So stay tuned!
Born just after World War II, it was
a joyous time for many black folks.
Until they got home to find out that the treatment that was
given to white soldiers was different than the treatment blacks
received. So that
temperament and mentality was shadowing the thoughts and attitudes
of my people, who came North to Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan
searching for a better life than the one they had experienced
“Down South”
It was also the time when great,
Black Intellectuals, like James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, Richard
Wright and Paul Roberson were forced exile to
Europe
. Because they would
not compromise their beliefs, morality or integrity in the face of
the status quo. For
them to accept a lesser human existence, in this country because
of racism was unthinkable.
I grew up in the Civil Rights
movement. We marched
in my hometown of
Racine
,
Wisconsin
for Open Housing. So
that Blacks, Asians and Poor whites could live anywhere they could
afford. The “March
on
Washington
”, with Adam Clayton Powell and Martin Luther King was something
to feel and experience, as
well as the “Million
Man March”.
I witness the growth of television
and watched as all of its possibilities avail itself to the mass
audiences around the world. T.V.
helped to make cigarettes king, it made it acceptable to cheer for
black sports athletes. It
became acceptable to be a female in sports, movies and television.
I watched the desegregation of schools in Little
Rock,Arkansas. I saw
the monkey that Russia sent in orbit around the world, to start
“the race for space” I
saw Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, Dianna Carroll, Step-in-Fetch
it, and Rochester. I
filled up my gas tank when gas prices were .30 a gallon, to large
whale shaped cars, from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler ruled
the highways. It was
the rise of Toyota of Japan, its Corolla four-door, with 20-25
miles per gallon. How
could we forget, the so called Black Exploitation Movies, “Black
Sheba”, “Shaft”, “Archie Bunker” and “The Jeffersons”?
I grew up in a time when women started to smoke cigarettes, drive
cars and work shoulder to shoulder with men in the workplace.
It was a time when black families could move from the
country, to the city, from the ghetto to the suburbs to live.
I remember when it was all right to have white friends over
for dinner.
It was the start of Interracial
dating, interracial marriage, Black Catholics, Black Jews (Sammy
Davis, Jr.) Integrated schools, colleges and universities.
The Great Society”, the Federal
Government would take care of its people.
Welfare and Federal Government Social Agencies.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) the beginning of
the Cold War (Berlin Wall) Communism versus Capitalism, the
term-“
Third World
”, and “Underdeveloped Countries” Nuclear Warfare began to
raise its ugly heads.
The Transistor Radio, Automatic
Transmission, Synthetic Materials - Plastic, Vinyl and
Polyurethane. Imported,
Exported goods and services, we now call that Globalization.
These
were just a few things that shaped my thoughts, ideas, theories
and philosophies on life, death, society, economics and human
rights.
I look at my life in four stages:
*
My Youth (growing up in
Racine
,
Wisconsin
)
*
High School, College and the NBA
*
After Basketball (reinventing myself)
*
Family (marriage, the kids and old age)
In summary, each story is interwoven
into the next story, to form patterns and relationships that
should make my writings easy to follow. (Not predictable)
In the end you should have a better idea of who you are,
while still being confused as to who I am.
I have written twenty (40) short
stories, ranging from 3-60 pages in length.
As we speak, I am at work on a novel, about ordinary
people, about human efforts, and about human lives, these ordinary
people have something to say about this World and our Country.
My publicist, Claudia Owens and I are now looking for a
publisher that will grow with me.
Thank you for your time,
Jim Chones, Small Town Boy, Former
NBA Player, Stockbroker, Writer, Philosopher, Humanitarian, and
Father of five (5) College Graduates.
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