Farewell to the Mockingbirds

As we say now about Mark Twain, the future will hear, "another James McEachin". He has written the definitive book on man's inhumanity to man while, paradoxically, presenting a paean to the triumph of the human spirit. McEachin brings to life people to aspire to who have terrible failings and seemingly simple folk with hidden greatness. So many thoughts that have never been expressed and behaviour never before delineated. You will read word combinations you've not seen til now.

The actor James McEachin has enjoyed a fine second career as a novelist. This, his second novel, is an incredibly moving book about an unforgettable, yet forgotten, incident in our past. In 1917 the US Army sent a regiment of black soldiers to Houston, Texas. As could have been expected, trouble eventually occurred. Big trouble. A riot between white Houston police and the black soldiers which resulted in the deaths of several people. The result was the largest murder trial in American history, followed by the largest mass execution. This is an emotional book, written in the heat of righteous anger. But, Mr. McEachin never allows his obvious sympathies for the soldiers to descend into maudlin sentimentalism. The soldiers are fully rounded men, often troubled and flawed. Their actions are not made out to be more noble than they were. It is a book that reminds us of how far we have come in America, and how far we have to go. Most highly recommended.

Mr. McEachin again reminds me of why he is my favorite author. His powerful words are overshadowed only by the human-ness of his characters. He is a master storyteller.

I am a writer. After reading this book, I feel like a fraudcalling myself a writer. James McEachin's writing is that good, justbrilliant. When it comes to men of letters, somewhere, sometime, somehow, some way, James McEachin must be acknowledged and recognized as a national literary treasure or there is no justice in this world.

FAREWELL TO THE MOCKINGBIRDS by James McEachin, the Rharl Publishing Group, 1997.I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and receive the autograph of James McEachin at the American Booksellers Conference in Chicago this summer...Seeing him in the corridors, I kept wishing I remembered his name-for I did remember his face from many of my favorite TV programs. So, once home, with "signed" bookmark in hand, I ordered the hard copy of Farewell to the Mockingbirds . . . having no idea what the book was about . . .History was never one of my favorite subjects; however, the slice of history called the "Houston Insurrection," as portrayed by James McEachin will be one that I'll never forget. Each of you owe it to yourself and your families to read this new dramatic, perhaps fictional, but entirely believable novel.McEachin takes us back to the time of World War I, beginning in 1917, and takes the readers into the midst of the 24th U.S. Infantry Regiment (Colored) and in particular K (King) Company. For many of us, we have no idea of the "actuality" of segregation as it was experienced early in our Country's history. Within the confines of the Army structure, where all officers were white, and that allowed them to "act out" their emotions, Farewell to the Mockingbirds presents the story of those referred to at that time as "colored." It presents their reactions, their fears, and their anger at the treatment by those in authority.One of the interesting points of the book, for me, was that the entire battalion . . . and indeed Black men from all over the United States wanted to participate in World War I . . . they wanted to go overseas and help defend their country. The Secretary of War knew they needed men of all colors and tried to move toward their full use; however, the "war" was at home, as James McEachin, tells the story . . . and the battle was ongoing!McClellan is the main character . . . the First Sgt. Who led King Company. Clearly, a learned man, his love for the Army and the United States, is well demonstrated. Only in the midst of the internal "war" within the Army, does he come to make decisions contrary to those given by the commanding officers. And even then, you realize that Race is not the issue-saving the lives of his men is his primary objective.His commanding officer, is white, a Quaker, and a man who clearly does not believe in war-neither the official one or the one within the Army. Perhaps a stronger officer would have controlled and prevented what happened, but somehow I doubt it. McClellan was a born leader and he had trained King Company to be soldiers. Instead, they were ordered to a construction post where their only jobs would be to support the white soldiers in their work. Yes, I'm glossing over the specific activities and happenings prior to the Insurrection. It is impossible to take certain acts and dwell on any one of them; you must visit Houston and become one of the