Solution Series: The Trouble

This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity for all of God’s Children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood…Now is the time…make real the promises…rise from the dark…open the doors…lift our nation...now is the time…quicksands of racial injustice…sunlit path of racial justice…now is the time….the time…time…is…now...

“Mr. Solution,” said a stern voice.
“Mr. Solution,” the voice repeated.
“Mr. Solution!”

“Wha?...Yes?” BT said shaking his head as he snapped out of a trance.

“You had some really good comments today in class, but next time don’t be so pessimistic and cynical. I understand that the topic gets you a bit stirred up, but you need to be able to look for the good as well.” Said Dr. Robinson with the firm, yet gentle, approach she always used with her students.

“Yes ma’am. I’ll work on it.”

“That’s all I ask.”

BT then gave Dr. Robinson a courteous smile. She gave him a smile and head nod in return. Then, he turned and continued down the hallway. He would carry Dr. Robinson’s words with him; he would contemplate them on later moments. Now, wasn’t the time. The summer was quickly approaching, and he needed volunteers.

BT started a literacy program for elementary kids back in Alexandria last summer, and it did not end up being the success he hoped it would be. But, it was a start. Moreover, as much as BT was looking forward to working with the kids in Alexandria on raising their reading levels, people living in his community wanted his program much more.

The only ones, who seemed not to want the program, were BT’s peers. For them, the summer meant beach vacations, retail jobs, summer camp counseling, office internships, summer school, and more play after the work was done. No one seemed to have time for BT and his cause. And, the few who did were not interested in dealing with his idealistic dreams and—at times—crude personality just to help 20 or 30 kids read better. Gene Yus, Rose McCauley, and all the other students from Alexandria couldn’t look past his wrinkled button-downs, ragged loafers, and steel-plated ego to see a young man in fatigues with his eye on a target.

BT was at war. Being a very peaceful person, he did not want to battle. But, he had no choice. He had been drafted, and there was nothing he could do about it. He had one option—fight.
BT was in a battle against a wide range of adversaries. It was by the fault of Hughes College that BT formed these enemies. Hughes enlisted him into the service and threw him in the trenches. Standing atop the hills above him were the ideals he had to confront—injustice, miseducation, racism, classism—standing tall and heavily armed. Yet, as mighty as they stood, they were only his enemies in battle. He was at war with a force more powerful than all the ideals fused together.

This evil predator confronted BT every day. He was constantly reminded of this arch foe. It laughed at what BT was—mocking him for what he could never become. So, like the kid who finally stands up to the class bully, BT decided to fight back. He was fighting for his self-worth, his pedigree, and his destiny.

At two decades old, BT was at war with his name.

OxyJon