IBO, Brian R. Lundin [the ebook reader .txt] 📗

first black person they had ever really talked with. They had no preconceptions about blacks and they were amazed at his stories about life in the projects and the gangs. They could not understand why there was so much violence in Chicago or why blacks did not have more control over their community, like the Jews and now the Arabs, many of the questions they asked, Eli could not answer. Prejudice in their insulated lives was something reserved for ignorant southern whites. Eli got his transcripts from his high school in Chicago and his grade point average during his senior year at Warsaw high was 11.5 out of a possible 12.0, that year Eli graduated valedictorian of his class.
Eli had applied for an academic scholarship to Purdue University, but had not received a response. His Uncle Mack was the Director of Education for the Indiana Chapter of the NAACP and he interacted with colleges throughout the country. The NAACP was sponsoring a workshop for graduating seniors in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The purpose of this workshop was to prepare graduating seniors for the ACT Test, which was necessary to enter college, and how to apply for scholarships

Recruitment representatives from most of the major black colleges would be there; giving interviews and advice, Doctor Bryant Luden representing Harvard University was there.
Doctor Luden and Mack were old college classmates and he was staying with Mack for the three-day workshop. Mack had told Doctor Luden about Eli and the tragedy with his brother and mother. After dinner one evening, Doctor Luden, and Mack talked to Eli about his college plans.
Doctor Luden asked Eli, “Made any college plans yet?”
Well sir, I applied for a scholarship to Purdue University, but I have not heard anything from them. I don't have any money, so I’m going to try to find a job and go to a junior college part time here.”
“At Harvard we have a minority set aside program aimed at increasing our minority student body. Harvard has a few minority students but they only represent approximately three percent of its student body, which I will admit is low. The set-aside program is aimed at minority students who have the academic credentials to do the work but do not have the other resources. The requirements are; a 4.0 high school grade point average, a minority, family income under forty thousand dollars a year, good moral character and no arrest record, juvenile or adult. You submit an application and an essay to the selection board. The board consists of all the department heads at the university. If selected, the candidate will be flown to Harvard, all expenses paid, for an interview with the board. I am not on the board, but I understand they are offering ten scholarships, interested?”
“Yes Sir,” Eli said.
“Ok, here's an application, complete it and give it backs to me, with the essay and I will submit it when I get back.”
It was a pleasant summer, Eli and his brother Billy, fished and swam with his Uncle Mack and in the evenings they would sit around a campfire roasting marshmallows, swatting mosquitoes and telling fish stories. Most of their neighbors were retired older white people, but everyone was very friendly. Eli had given Doctor Luden his application and essay and Doctor Luden had returned to Harvard. Eli found a part time job in town repairing tires, the work was hard and the pay was low, but it was something.
Eli received a letter from Harvard University during the last week of July; he had been invited to the interview for the set-aside program. Eli flew to Boston and was met at the airport by Doctor Luden, who took him, two Hispanic females, and another young Black man to the university campus.
Doctor Luden told them to get some rest, and if hungry they could order something from the cafeteria and he would pick them up in the morning at 6:30 and take them on a tour of the university and later, they would go to the reception. Doctor Luden arrived at the hotel at exactly 6:30 am and after the tour, they went to the reception. There were approximately fifty young men and women at the reception. On a large table outside of the room where the reception was being held, there were nametags for all the applicants. The nametags contained the name of the applicant and the city and state they were from. After instructing the men and women to get their nametags, Doctor Luden excused himself.
After getting their name tags, Eli and Malik wandered over to a table that containing a variety of finger sandwiches, and hors’dovers. Next to the table was another table that contained beverages; pop, tea, and coffee.
Eli looked at Malik's name tag and asked, "What side of Chicago you from man?
“South Side,” Malik said.
“I grew up on the West Side,” Eli responded.
“But your name tag says Indiana,” Malik said.
“Well, after my moms’ died, I moved there with my little brother and we stay with our aunt and uncle.”
“Where at on the West Side?” Malik asked.
“Cabrini Green,” Eli answered.
“Malik was surprised; you grew up in the "jets?”
“Me too, Robert Taylor,” he continued.
“Small world man, what do you think about Harvard?” Eli asked.
“It’s something else; you think we got a chance?” There are a lot of people here,” Malik said looking around the room.
“You’re right about the people, I don't know,” Eli responded.
The reception went well; both Malik and Eli felt more at ease with someone to relate to. Doctor Hollis the chairperson of the selection board introduced himself and the rest of the board members and he explained the selection and interview process, after the reception Doctor Luden drove them back to their hotel. The next morning Doctor Luden picked up the groups and took them to the University for the interview.
The interview consisted of questions about why you wanted to go to Harvard, plans, family life and community and church involvement. Malik and Eli talked while they waited on the two Hispanic girls to get finished. After a short wait Eli was called and then Malik.
“How do you think you did?” Eli asked Malik after they had boarded the bus to take them back to their rooms.
“Ok, I guess, who knows?"
“I don’t think I did that well, I was kinda of nervous and I’m not really that involved in a lot of community or church activities, I guess we will see,” Eli said dejectedly.
After lunch at university cafeteria, everyone packed and Doctor Luden took them all to the airport. Everyone wished each other good luck, exchanged phone numbers, and said their good-byes.
Pops and a young police officer nicknamed Pacman parked at the United Airline Arrival Terminal at O’Hare Airport waiting for Malik.
“I want you to meet my main man, his name is Malik and he is sharp. I first noticed him when he was a Peewee and I liked him right away. He’s not flashy or nothin’ matter of fact, I invest some of his money in our businesses. He knows how to get along with people and respected by the old and young in the hood
I’m thinking about recommending him for the board. Matter of fact he got a scholarship to Harvard. I think you’ll like him.”
Malik and Eli flew into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Uncle Mack and his little brother met Eli at the airport. After getting his luggage, Malik left the terminal and saw Pops sitting in a gray Lexus SUV waiving to him. Malik waived back and directed the Red Cap to the car. The Red Cap put his luggage in the trunk and Malik gave him a twenty-dollar bill. Pops gave the gang sign and said to Malik,
"My man, how was Harvard?”
“Interesting, a bunch of squares but interesting.”
“I want you to meet my main man, they call him the Pacman, like the video game that gobbles up everything,” Pops said smiling.
The hot summer air whipped through the open windows of the Lexus SUV as Pops guided it through the lines of cars, buses and cars onto the Kennedy Expressway and as usual it was backed up. When he finally turned onto the Dan Ryan Expressway heading east, the traffic was heavy.
“What’s going on?” Malik asked looking at the lines of vehicles barely moving.
“White Sox are playing today,” Pacman answered.
“Roll up the windows guys, I hate air conditioning but it’s hot as Hell,” Pops said switching on the air conditioner.
Finally, they arrived at 5100 south on the Dan Ryan, Pops exited and turned left. Suddenly Pops had to hit his brakes as he approached the second District Police Station that was located at 51st Street, just off the expressway.
A torrid blanket had descended over the city making tempers and patience short. Two men had had an accident directly in front of the police station. It was not a major accident, no one seemed injured and the damage to the vehicles were minor, but it was far from minor as far as the tempers were concerned. The cab had struck the rear of an older model Cadillac and both vehicles were still in the streets blocking East and westbound traffic. Both drivers, hot and short-tempered were out of their vehicles arguing. The black driver was shaking his fist in the cab driver’s face and the cab driver was probably cussing the man out in his language. Within minutes, the traffic was congested: horns blared and angry shouts came from reluctantly open car windows. Two uniformed police officers raced out of the station towards the disturbance. Pops, Malik and Pacman watched in amusement as the police officers tried to calm down the two men. Two more police officers emerged from the police station and drove the vehicles into the police parking lot.
“They ought to ban those rag head mutherfukas from driving cabs, they don’t know the city and can’t drive worth a fuck,” Pacman said as they finally were able to move.
Police officer Richard J. Dixon, Jr. also known as “Pacman,” was twenty-five years old and had been a Chicago Police Officer for three years. Pacman was born and raised in the Robert Taylor Homes and was a member of the State Street Boys street gang. His father Richard J. Dixon, Sr. was one of the founding members of the gang and soon as his son was old, enough he initiated him into the gang, and it was his father who encouraged Pacman to become a police officer, not for any cause like helping people but to help the gang. Pacman had graduated from Chicago State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and had no trouble passing the police exam. After graduating from the police academy, Pacman was assigned to the Fillmore District on the West Side of the city and quickly became known as a good and aggressive young officer. Within a year, he worked as an undercover officer with to the vice squad. He received numerous departmental citations for exemplary police work.