A 21st Century Fugitive Slave Narrative . . .

I've been pretty wrapped up in college basketball for the past couple of weeks, much to the exclusion of just about everything, but my most basic needs and the most minimal of family obligations, so I've been out of the loop on most current events. I came to this realization after having a phone conversation with my Ma, and she mentioned something about "Brian G. Nichols," and and incident at Atlanta-Fulton County Courts.

Nichols, as you know, was the brother that capped the Fulton County Court judge, and three others this past Friday. It was now several days after the fact, so I decided to read up and get up to speed on this incident. I searched for Nichols' name on Google, and what popped up was the usual, pro-forma coverage on such events, that is typcial of most media outlets -- the so-called "facts" as they are know at the time. Most of it was senationalistic, hysterical and not all that revealing.

There were, however, a couple of interesting takes on the issue. . . The most interesting of these came on a weblog published by some one that dubbed himself as "The PhotoDude." (The site itself was an interesting illustration the creative power and potential weblogs as a vehicle for self-expression. It was part a promotional vehicle for his photography studio, but also used as a forum for his own "unique" perspective on what ever current events spark his ire at a particular moment.) Although I didn't care much for his particular take on the event, I'll have to give ol' Photodude's props for his interesting summary, analysis and commentary on the Fulton County Court slayings and it's fallout. I then wnet back and re-read a couple of articles from the AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and was intrigued by a couple of things:

1) The first thing that jumps out at you is the sheer incompetence of the local constabulary (Fulton County Sheriff's Department, Atlanta PD, etc.) That's plain. But it may not have entirely been their fault because . . .

2) Nichols was a piece of work. He wasn't your average felon that passes through the penal system. The account of his flight from Downtown Atlanta, which entailed five carjackings, backtracking and criss-crossing his path, and ultimately fleeing on foot via MARTA, is
simply remarkable in my view. Based on a description from a cellmate who did time with him, Nichols actually sounds like he's pretty damned bright and analytical. He's supposedly college educated, a graduate even. (This accomplishment, was in and of itself, was deemed so extraordinary, that Nichols might as well have been been an extra-terrestrial, an alien.) Nichols was a martial arts devotee, and generally practiced the self-restraint advocated by the discipline. There was also an undercurrent of angst the percolated below the surface, according to the ex-cellmate. This anger was partially over what he witnessed in the County Jail (the warehousing of young, black men such as himself) as well as the circumstances that brought him there in the first place. More about that in a moment. . .

3) It's also fair to say that Nichols' rampage is somewhat understandable when you dig into the some of the facts. He was, of course, in jail because for raping and kidnapping an ex-girlfriend.
The assualt doesn't warrant elaboration here, but let's just say that it was premeditated and extended. As I said, he was a piece of work. . . Prior to the assualt Nichols and his ex, clearly had a turbulent relationship -- so much so, that they actually sought out counsling from the woman's pastor. Eventually, they broke up, and, not too long after that Nichols' ex began dating the minister. I don't know about you, but the term "conflict of interest" came to mind as I read this
account, and, clearly something along those lines (and then some) occurred to Nichols, as well. . . . I'm just saying. . . It's interesting that Nichols' was facing a re-trial after his first case ended up with a hung jury.

4) White-folks, and white suburbanites, in particular are having a field day with the incident, as the photodude's article and some of the comments I skimmed through on the site. Many probably see the incident and the handling of it as the lastest evidence and justification for their antipathy towards the predominantly-African American run public institutions of Atlanta and Fulton County.

5) Which brings us finally to the "hostage." I haven't delved into this side of the story, but it's interesting how she is being portrayed thus far. She is being proclaimed as a "hero" by many,
including the Governor of Georgia -- and numerous Christian Right leaning websites and blogs -- for her calm, steely, determination in the face of danger. This widowed-single mother, a woman-of-faith stared down this big, bad black man and helped bring him to justice after the bumbling local authorities had failed to do so. Ah, . . . the paragon of white southern womanhood! It it weren't the 21st Century, you'd swear this story wer taken straight from an old pre-Civil war narrative. Big strapping fugitive slave is on the loose. During his flight, he stumbles on to the back forty of widow, who is valiantly struggling to keep the homstead up and running after her husband's deaths. . . . Well, . . . you get the picture.

I'm not holding my breath on this, but I can't wait until they start delving into the background of this woman. Usually when a grown person in their 30s or 40s comes off as that virtuous and pious, especially in that part of the country, it usually means that they spent a significant portion of their earlier life "in sin," doing some pretty shameful and freaky shit. It'll be pretty interesting to see what skeletons come jumping out of her closet. What will it be. . . Sex? . . . Drugs? . . . Rock-n-Roll? Sold her first born to a band of white-slavery traders? Or worst, . . . she used to be registered as a Democratic and voted for both Bill Clinton and Cynthia McKinney back in 1992.

It's simply fascinating, and I don't mean that in the postive sense. You'd think that fugative slave narratives, once a staple of late 19th Century Southern lore, were a thing of the past. Then again, if you simply read the crime blotter of your local daily, or watch a local TV News broadcasts, you'll realize that story gets recycled on a daily basis.