So many times in our own homes and communities -at-Large, the young female child is nurtured, raised up properly with all the best of character qualities invested into them. Now, on the other hand too often the young male is left to go at it all alone, on his own. This young male (sons), are charged to become the leaders in home, and the market place in the not-too-distant future. This book, RISING SONS was birthed and born from a similar experience in my own life. Had it not been for God using my grandma Jay to hold me accountable and at the same time provide for me in all areas of life, I don't think I would have survived. Yes, there were many times I just wanted to run away from home, school, plantation and yes God. But thank God for a strong grandma who wouldn't let me do what I felt. I guess we all have had our prodigal experiences at one time or the other. After much prayer and soul searching, this book was birthed in my spirit and then manifested in my mind and body. Out of the plantation, cotton field and fighting mosquitoes, flies and knats came a little boy out of wedlock not knowing what to do or which way to go; Nay, Crock Martin, Nate, names given to me by family and close friends. Some other names, I had to learn to deal with on plantation were: boy, nigger, blacky, or that boy or just him-names my grandma and mama taught me how to handle. Even though the Delta Plantation had its dark sides and many pains, and suffering we, sharecroppers endured, yet there were some Whites / Caucasins who were loving, caring and fair with Black sharecroppers. These are the people who came along side of us and help to keep us mentally and spiritually sane. I have learned and try hard to implement into my life: Three-fold purpose of man: (1) Be fruitful- (giving birth) (2) Multiply- (raising productivity), (3) Replenish- (leaving a deposit). Ultimate lesson I have taken from writing this book is: (a) Don't stop working for change, when things start getting better. (b.) It is not about me, but the next generation, the unborn, but about building an infrastructure in my home that will serve as a kingdom model. This is a historical and biographical account of challenges and triumphs I experienced as a child in rural Mississippi-the delta region of Leflore County. Little did I know that God was allowing me to experience the many challenges of growing up in a society where racism, alcoholism, social alienation, educational segregation, and economical were the "norms". This is just the way things were and as a young black boy born out-of-wedlock you did not ask questions. This is just the way it was.
Author Biography:
On December 7, 1944 Rosetta Johnson gave birth to a baby boy whom she named, Nathan. Nathan was born out-of-wedlock, so he carried his mother's last name "Johnson. " Nathan's father's name was Allen Rogers, Jr., who lived at that time on Grayser's Plantation in Holmes County near Lexington, MS . At about the age of three (3) yrs. old Nathan moved with his grandmother Louese Johnson and step-grandfather, Lonnie Johnson to Marie's plantation in Leflore county, Near Sidon, MS. On this plantation Nathan's grandparents became sharecroppers. When Nathan was (5) yrs. old, his father visited him and sat him on his knee and told him that he was going up North Chicago, Illinois but would send him some clothes before school started and he turned six (6) years old. Nathan never heard from his father to this date (at time of writing this book "Rising Sons." Nathan's step-grandfather and the absence of his father were two real negative experiences in his life as a young boy growing up on a plantation. Nathan's step grandfather was an alcoholic and did not love Nathan-Nathan was reminded by him that he was not his grandson. This was a constant reminder to boy Nathan every time Lonnie was under the influence of wine, whiskey, moonshine, or beer. All the children in the house would run out and hide in the woods when Lonnie was intoxicated/high with alcohol, and stayed out there until he fell asleep. Nathan hated his father, step-grandfather and hated going to elementary school; all these were heavily compounded into shaping this child for the future. Nathan did all the chores as a young boy and teenager that his young aunts and uncles didn't do. Hateful, angry and drinking step grandfather ordered this. Nathan attended his first school at St John Missionary Baptist Church School, then Ellis School at Rising Sun, MS then to Sidon Industrial School-Sidon, MS. After Sidon Industrial School was closed, Nathan started the ninth (9th) grade at Amanda Elzy High School, Greenwood, MS from 1964-1968. He graduated from Amanda Elzy High School in May 1968 and received a choir and Football Scholarship. Nathan accepted a scholarship to attend Rust College, in Holly Springs, MS for Rust A'Capella Choir in the year of 1968. While at Rust College, Nathan was in a swing band, President of YMCA, Superintendent of College Sunday School, majored in Biology, was on work-study program and dramatic club and college chapter of NAACP.
