I often wonder how Jaybird, the old black man who mentored me during my boyhood years on Dad’s Mississippi Delta cotton farm, would view the goings on in America today. He wouldn’t like them.
He despised effeminate behavior, and would hate political correctness, as I do; socialism’s encroachment on this free society would enrage him, as it does me; he would be distressed at how the welfare program is churning out unproductive slobs, as I am.
He would not respect those who are displeased with the gender God assigned them, nor do I; he loved competition and taught me to love it, and would view the current idolatrous mindset held by liberal academics toward diversity and multiculturalism as an impediment to top achievers who should be challenged to the maximum in classrooms, but quite often aren’t because the curriculum would be too difficult for mediocre achievers.
Thankful that Jaybird still mentors me, I fell into a reverie, thinking how he would view some of the conundrums so evident in American society today.
In my reverie, he said, “Son, hit don’t add up when folks say dat Americans is greedy, when you considers dat half o’ dem is supported by hard-workin’ folks, and yet steady hollerin’ dat dey is victims.
“Son, dese so-called victims keep votin’ fuh lazy, no-’count crooks, de kind dat makes sho’ dey keeps gittin’ money dey don’t deserve, while filling dey own pockets wit’ dough dey didn’t earn. Still, dese ‘victims’ can’t see dat po’ folks keep gittin’ mo’ po’.
“Son, po’ folks today ain’t got no idea what sho-nuff po’ is lak. I do. I went through de Great Depression. Dey wuz times I didn’t even hab a roof over mah head, and yet dese so-called po’ folks today got thangs dat peoples in other countries can only dream ’bout — and dey wants dis country to be lak dem countries!
“Son, dose sissies in Congress is dead set on makin’ folks give up dey guns because evuh now and den a crazy man shoots up a schoolhouse. Sich wrong-headed thankin’ is just de opposite of de foolish idea dat we oughten to judge all folks in udduh religions as dangerous just ’cause a few o’ dem cuts off folks’ heads.
“Son, dem liars in Washington say Social Security is broke, but dey steady givin’ lazy folks food stamps. Thank ’bout dat: Folks who give to Social Security worked fuh dey money, but most folks gittin’ food stamps didn’t.
“Son, why is de guvmint makin’ veterans go widout needed services, payin’ less to de brave men and wimmens protectin’ us, and turning de military into a skeleton o’ what hit used to be? But hit dang sho’ ain’t cuttin’ off money to folks sneakin’ in dis country, thumbin’ dey noses at us laws, and livin’ off de fat o’ de land widout havin’ to turn a hand.”
When my reverie ended, I resolved to continue doing what Jaybird always told me to do: Speak yo’ mind, Son.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
