I Don’t Run From Punks :

The GREGORY HAMILTON STORY

A Blackman in his mid thirties is at a computer. The room around him is dark but well decorated. He is clicking thru articles, closer seen, the articles deal with violence. Ages flashed of victim and accused is sometimes very young. Some articles have photos linked with them. Again, ages of the lifeless victim, and the soul-less accused, is sometimes very young, all the faces Black. The computer man's face, illuminated by the CRT screen, shows his anger as his eyes glow and burn.

An off camera voice of the man. He speaks of how things are just getting crazy now. The slave mentality is producing a hefty body count these days. He speaks of the wasted lives and the disrespect done to forefathers who put up with slavery so that one day we could become something ... But look at this shit, look at this shit.

A white lady picks up her morning paper from her front porch on a dark rainy day. She fixes some tea while she reads the headlines and sees the photos. Headline after headline is about dead Black kids, gangs, Black prison populations, orphans, some Black celebrity murders. Her 'voice over' speaks about how bad things are now. Where did society go wrong, what happened, what can we do to turn things around? It's a heartbreaking thing to see so many wasted lives. I remember when this junk started....

Black computer man's face is still mad but it is tearfilled. He jams the mouse around much harder than needed, and clicks on and off files at a furious rate. His voice over speaks about how he remembers when this bullshit started. Tears drop from his eyes now. The wasted lives... the screen stops on a famous celebrity that died too young because of black on black violence. The man slams down the mouse. An old framed picture of a young Blackman falls near his keyboard. He picks it up, hugs it and tears fall harder. I remember when it all started.

1956

Six twelve year old white kids with crewcuts are running full gallop. It is snowy all around them and thick steam like rasta smoke flies from their mouths and ears. They are smiling, looks like they are having a great time. A lone set of legs up ahead shows that they are trying to catch someone. The boys scream, "He went that way", and make a sharp right turn and must jump a snow bank. One boy doesn't make the jump and wipes out face first into a huge drift.

2

A nine year old White girl with long hair runs over to 3 nine year old white guys playing catch with a football. She is panting for breath as she asks them to help her friend not get beat up. They resist at first but then decide to help.

Meanwhile five crewcuts are running as fast as they can through the snow. Now fully seen is the person running ahead of them. He is a Black boy who is about 9 years old. The Black kid is running hard but he can't shake the remaining five.

The Black kid slows down, stops, slams down his books at his feet, and says, "Come on, You want some ..." The tallest of the much taller kids swings on him, the Black kid ducks and nails him with combinations to the gut. The tall kid falls to his knees. "I'm Joe Louis, you're Max Schmelling ... next!" The next kid gets a bloody nose right away. The remaining kids rush him at once, two kids clunck heads and fall backwards. The leader wrestles with the Black kid but the Black kid gets on top of him and threatens to punch him unless he gives up. The leader agrees, gets let up, ... then slams the Black kid in the gut with an upper cut. The leader laughs at him and starts punching him. The others get up and start punch and kicking him too, blood flies from his mouth.

Just then the three white guys jump into the pile and start fighting. The girl even gets into it. Wearing gloves, she scoops her hand underneath some yellow snow, jumps on a guys back, and smushes it in his face. Eventually the bullies take off but yell about niggers and nigger lovers as they leave the scene.

Greg thanks the new kids, introduces himself. They introduce themselves as Anderson, Clark and Colangelo. The young lady's name is Linda. She goes on to tell the guys that this has happened since the first time she met him at five years old. The new guys invite him to play ball with them the next day. Greg accepts, smiles and goes home.

On the way home he tries to pack snow on his lip to stop it from bleeding and swelling. He walks up to a snowy two story house. Grandma Clara, who is preparing for Thanksgiving dinner the next day, says hello and asks about school, sees the wound, calls her husband Horace. Horace sees it, mad, says he hopes he got a couple good ones in too.

His sister of near the same age comes in with her Mom Leslie and Aunt Cynthia, late 20's. Leslie considers a move back to the city till older. Greg says that in spite of problems he likes it here in the open spaces better than Buffalo. This makes Grandpa happy, they have an impromptu pre-Thanksgiving prayer. They ask for faith, strength, courage, wisdom and His protection.

In school tests are being passed out by the teacher. Greg gets his last, highest in the class. Linda glad for him, some others jealous. Linda goes to congratulate him several girls beat her there and start flirting with him.

3

Heavy Buffalo snow day. Greg cleans off mountains of snow from the car. The family sits in church and are surrounded by white people, they wave to Linda and her family. He looks cute in his little suit. When the preacher says he is reading a particular chapter and verse, Greg looks it up in his own little Bible. On the way home, he asks who MLK is, told he is great leader against discrimination and gets his fearlessness from being a preacher. Says he would like to help Black people one day.

Greg plays his violin in the living room and is pretty good. Uncles, Aunts and cousins smile at his ability and are visibly proud. That scene melts into another scene. He is still playing violin, but now in the school orchestra. The crowd of parents applaud the boy in the suit, after his solo ends.

Snowflakes fall gently to the ground as the sound of a child barking football signals is heard in the background. Looking like the 'Little Rascals Super Bowl Special' are Greg and his four friends Anderson, Clark, Colangelo and Dombrowski. They are on offense and Greg is the QB. They are wearing over sized equipment and pads but they still have tough-guy game faces on. They have one center ( Dombrowski), 2 flankers (Clark, Anderson) and a RB (Colangelo). On the sidelines near the shrubs are several girls and younger kids, including Linda.

Greg hikes it and the two defensive players on the line start counting. " one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand..." and rush Greg as he scrambles all over the back field barely missing getting tackled. He finally throws a touchdown pass to Colangelo and they all celebrate.

The kids are in a tree fort back in the woods. They discuss race as they understand it at 9 yrs old. They restate things their parents have said. Greg says profound things that make a big impression on them.

At Greg's house, he and Linda are listening to soul music. Puppy love blooms and affectionate things are said. Greg decides to walk her home. On the way they are laughing and holding hands when a car load of mean white teenagers drive by them and shouts racial slurs. The car drives off but the kids stop holding hands and look slightly scared.

1965

A newer model car full of mean looking white teenagers shout racials slurs at the interracial teenage couple walking down the road holding hands. The Blackman gives them the finger, but the couple ceases to hold hands.

4

Greg is dressed like a cross between Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, processed hair and all. Linda still has long hair and now has grown into an attractive young lady. She asks "When will things change?" They discuss Malcolm X, MLK, Jackie Robinson, JFK and the fights he has gotten in about her. Walks her to the door, kiss goodnight.

Goes home, room filled with sports trophies and awards. Throws his jacket in there and plays with his five year old cousin, Chris. Horace, the grandfather, comes over and jokes around with them, asks how Greg is doing in school, his senior year. Greg says he just got notified of scholarships to Cornell and other colleges based on not only on atheletics, but more so for acedemics. Horace says he is proud and reminds Greg of how he had to struggle in Alabama as a young man during Jim Crow and later in the steel plants. The kids have a responsibility to those who came before them. Tells them that God has brought the family thru the hardest times, always give thanks, try to do His will and fear no man.

Windom Community Church is the setting. The choir finishes singing and then the Minister introduces Greg who will preach the guest sermon. He preaches to the all white congregation about the Macabees who, although outnumbered, pledged their hearts to God, decided to fight back against oppression and won. He asks for support for MLK's non-violent program, and condemnation of people sick enough to bomb a church and kill little girls. At the end he gets a standing ovation, most unusual for the conservative semi-rural church.

When Greg gets home he is given a graduation present. It is keys to an MG Midget that Horace bought from a guy at the Steel Plant who was moving. Greg is estatic and takes his little cousin Chris out and they drive up and down the grass lot next door, an occasional donut occurring. He turns on the radio and cranks up the R&B song.

Later he is playing bass in a rock band during a graduation party in someone's backyard. He is jamming pretty good and the beer kegs are flowing. Linda is at the party and most of his childhood friends are in the band. After the set, the couple go off and get romantic.

Greg is watching war movies when he gets a call to go play some football. Snowflakes falls slowly down to the ground as a football with some zip on it, zooms through the peaceful sky. Greg scrambles again, he almost gets tackled several times, then, with a guy hanging on him, heaves one for a TD. Big celebration later fueled by Colt 45. Says he should try NFL. One guy says there are no Black QBs, Greg says "Not Yet". They talk about the Greg at college, girls, Buffalo Bills, and the future. All the guys decide to go to the Armed Forces, none can afford college. Greg feels ashamed and unworthy of his scholarship.

5

Later that year Vietnam starts to warm up, Greg's grades slip and after talking to Uncle Jimmy the ex-Marine, and his old buddies on the phone, he decides to enlist. An emotional goodbye given by his family and also Linda.

1970

Celebration of his return from Vietnam. Cousin Chris is now 10 years old and they talk for hours about his experience. Tells him that the Armed Forces is no place for a Blackman, especially Chris, stay free and don't let anyone own you. Has lots of soveniers and things he has collected. Pulls out a Hendrix album and puts it on. Greg loves it and he even bears a resembalance to the maestro. Teaches Chris to appreciate music and the deepness of the artist.

Greg signs up as a Physics major and is accepted. His disipline is better now and his grades are back up there. Considers working for NASA later. Chris says "there are no Black Astronauts". Greg says, "Not yet". He had sold his MG to help pay for school. Horace gives him the keys to his Bellvedere, emotional moment.

The men of the family watch a Buffalo Bills game where O.J. Simpson runs wild and the guys are quite vocal. Especially since Greg snuck Chris some beer during halftime. Later they watch a Godzilla Movie together and Greg schools Chris about girls.

Next day he sees Linda and they get romantic. Later they disagree about the war and race relations and argue a little. Greg's inner conflicts about race, his part in a questionable war, and the nightmares that leave him in a cold sweat and/or sobbing in his sleep begin to gnaw at him. As time wears on, the nightmares get worse. One day he has a seizure in front of Chris and his playmate. Was totally healthy before the war, now something has him very sick ( perhaps from Agent Orange).

To ease the pain, he starts drinking more. He gets picked up by a rich sexy white lady who takes him home and seduces him. She makes a painting of him and depicts the conflicts within him. Gets into bar fight over her, she says she can't take it, says goobye.

At the University he finds a fine Black lady, lives near the projects in the ghetto. They have intense love affair. His first Black lady ever, moves in, learns more about Black history, feels betrayed by his country doesn't trust white friends. Runs into Linda, rejects her, painful.

Takes Chris to corner bar, (underage but friends own bar)starts drinking and talking about life as a Blackman in America. Strange but positive conversation. Says he got a job as a security guard in a housing project recently. Not sure if it's a good idea.

Goes to bar after the graveyard shift upset. Got death threats from gang members who live in projects. Old white friends lend support and backup if any problems come up. Says he won't run from bullies, never did and never will.

6

He comes to his family's home after the bar and leaves for work from there. The family watches an episode from the 'One Step Beyond' series about a town that hunts down and kills an Alien. they later understand that it had good intentions. Greg leaves during the show, seems slightly emotional, says goodbye to everyone individually, shakes hands, hugs ... strange.

Six pairs of legs running. The blackmen are huffing and puffing, "Around there, went in the parking lot." A pair of solo legs in dark blue pants turns the corner, it is Greg. He runs faster but is cut off from his car by others. He stops, says he doesn't need to run, and prepares to fight. His hand to hand combat skills make quick work out of the half crazed teenagers. Greg says he will let the leader out of a choke hold if he calls the others off and they leave him alone. The gang leader agrees and is let up. Greg speaks to him about the need for unity but doesn't see the knife coming out from the thugs boot. Greg is stabbed in the abdomen and falls backwards. In slow motion he is kicked and watches as they torch his car. He also sees the cowardly people looking from their windows and doing nothing as the pool of blood grows larger.

Greg is called an Uncle Tom before he dies. Says, "Look asshole, I've been Blacker, and proud to be Black, more in my lifetime than you ever will ... you are the Uncle Tom, you killed a Blackman. You're just an errand boy for the KKK."

Next morning Chris is sleeping and is awakened by a wailing scream. Not sure if it's a cry or a huge laugh. Hopes for a laugh sound, but the next sound is fueled by sorrow. Chris rushes downstairs and sits paralyzed as he is told that his hero was murdered during the night.

Huge funeral with TV coverage. At the funeral, Chris touches the casket and promises to make the guilty pay one day ... somehow. Plea to Black community to find killers, no response from these cowardly sissies and so-called negroes. The sorry-assed Buffalo PD finds nothing and the case goes unsolved to this day. Just Blacks killing Blacks, who cares anyway.