Where to begin with this one, where to begin....
It's a proud moment for my mischievous best friend William King from Holy Cross. I can't help but fuel his ego because it's only appropriate for me to be proud as well.
This is the same kid who likes to instigate, test, shake things up, is blatantly honest, is surprisingly sentimental, astoundingly corny, hopelessly romantic, and ridiculously too smart for his own good. We always laugh to each other wondering how different our college experience may have been if we did not know each other. Perhaps mine would have been a little smoother, but looking back, he kept and continues to keep me grounded. I guess he's grown up (a little) as he sits at his powerful and legally infused top New York law firm desk (usually Gmailing or group Facebook messaging me and his buds), chats up with his Columbia Law peers/superiors at countless open bar events, calls me with quick updates on his iPhone (always making sure to hold it like it's a microphone rather than a regular cell phone; this kid always thinks he's on stage), or drinks a beer atop his chic New York studio and breathes in the smoggy, busy, city air.
This is the kid who walked around Holy Cross in some sort of Pittsburgh Steelers attire, whether a Jersey, or mesh shorts, a peacoat, pencil and books in hand (I don't think he owned a backpack). The same one who ate chicken fingers and fries disgustingly smothered with ketchup on a daily basis and would rudely interrupt my five roommates and I "just to see if you guys had a beer". This is the kid who wore the #41 Holy Cross football jersey for years (interesting how the number was passed down) and made the difficult decision to retire the jersey. I mean let's be real, HC wasn't the all-star football team anyway, we did try our best though. He was chosen to study abroad in Washington, DC for a semester to rub shoulders with lawyers, politicians, and famous HC alum such as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in order to pursue completion of his English thesis and eventually apply to law school. This is the same thesis that I got the opportunity to proofread and make an appearance in. Of course I approved because I figured I'd be his campaign manager or his Chief of Staff one day. He's already establishing titles amongst his friends. I'm down to publicist now.
Upon his return from DC, he was a little sad. Missing the football meetings, missing the games, and lacking the massive amounts of muscle that once enveloped his athletic build. I'm always reminding him that he's getting too skinny. His nickname is "Pee Wee" after all, amongst other things...
So back to this proud moment. Not in honor of Black History Month, but rather just in honor of a historic year at my alma mater College of the Holy Cross, writer Diane Brady chronicles the relationship between a certain handful of Holy Cross students, and a hopeful University Dean who went on to lead remarkable lives.
The book titled "Fraternity" describes a racially tense Jesuit college in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968, Reverend John Brooks, a white priest (who eventually became dean of the all male student body during those years) and his efforts to infuse diversity in the school. Unbeknownst at the time, Father Brooks helped enroll 20 African-American men who would quite frankly, go on to do big things. Diane Brady chooses to focus on five specific individuals, Clarence Thomas, Eddie Jenkins, Edward P. Jones, Stan Grayson, and Ted Wells. She was fortunate to be able to personally interview and establish relationships with these men, even Justice Thomas opened up willingly because "Father Brooks asked [him] to do it."
Some people are awaiting the Disney movie adaptation of this book but let's delve a bit into these men and how their lives overlapped, intersected, and changed:
Clarence Thomas '71 - Supreme Court Justice, co-founder of Holy Cross' Black Student Union
Eddie Jenkins '72- drafted to the NFL to the undefeated Miami Dolphins 1972 Champions
Edward P. Jones - Pulitzer Prize winning author
Stan Grayson '72 - Lawyer and COO at M.R. Beal and Company
Ted Wells '72 - world reknowned defense attorney, a partner at William's firm (his superior and his friend)
Of course William had to be stirred somewhere in this mix. April of 2008, our senior year, marked the 40th anniversary of the BSU. I remember a packed weekend of events with distinguished alum, including those listed above, heart-warming reunions, and a certain debate between William and our peer on the topic of 'affirmative action'. I was in the hall to mingle with/stand in awe of the famous alum and show my support for my friend. I could not stay the whole time (which Will ever so kindly reminds me of) but he had quite the audience regardless. He brilliantly argued his side, and had no idea that four years later, would be described in such an interesting book.
At last, William, though anonymously described, we all know it's you and we all knew one day you'd be published. Congratulations. We know you already have Ted Wells' signature on your copy a couple days ago after cheering with him to the good life and your future successes and we know you won't live this one down. We'll be sending you our copies for your signature of course, as you've already requested. Four decades after their Holy Cross experience, you are part of their reflection with your own turbulent and interesting experiences. March is your month. See you as partner.
WE bleed purple. "As in royalty". As in Holy Cross.
 |
| William John Lloyd King IV '08, Justice Clarence Thomas '72, William C. King Jr. '75 |
 |
| Speaks for itself. |
