The novel The Eclipse Blues is a tale of reverse power and fortune that comes about in the United States thirty years into the 21st Century as a result of massive global warming that's referred to by scientist as "the global warming mega-effect". As a result of the "global warming mega-effect" many diseases such as tuberculosis, the West Nile virus, and malaria are widely manifested. The most extensive debilitating disease is metastasis skin cancer that grows into a pandemic and greatly impacts and destroys the lives of people with pale and fair complexions - mostly Caucasians - who, as a result, become gravely ill and suffer a high mortality rate that subsequently makes them the minority in the United States to people of color who discriminate against them and prompt Caucasians to fight for their civil rights and equal justice much like people of color did during previous decades. Two influential personalities, Lutheran Minister Jerry Hines and newspaper owner Dewey Washington, come to the forefront in the story as protagonists who work diligently to end discrimination, inequality, and injustice toward pale-skinned citizens. These men put a lot on the line, including their own well-being, and in the case of Washington, the life of his daughter who is kidnapped by deranged David Butterfield, who is the diabolic leader of the Pale-skinned People Warriors Party that has declared vengeance and therewith violence against people of color.
The Eclipse Blues
Elements Of Global Warming And Color-ism (A Novel)By W. James RichardsonAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 W. James Richardson
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-4345-2Chapter One
The wind howled like Arctic wolves. Snow fell from the cloudy, charcoal-gray sky and blanketed southeast Michigan. Roads were icy and hazardous. Icicles hung ubiquitously from trees, telephone lines, signs and buildings.
Mother Nature appeared to have mocked evidence of global warming.
It was nearly four decades into the twenty-first century. Like most Americans, Reverend Jerry Hines and his family were eager on that cold January evening to watch the installation of Corbin Edward Jefferson, the newly elected President of the United States.
Jefferson was a United States Senator from Indiana who narrowly won the election. He was the second black man to be elected president.
Reverend Hines mused that his own vote in the election had not been about a particular political party. He'd declared himself to be an Independent. Neither did he consider his vote was about the race or religion of the candidates. He'd cast his vote for the frail and sick people he visited and ministered to in hospital beds and for those who dwelled in incarceration and whose self-esteem, from his observation, was in the basement and whose self-worth had eroded like sandcastles in a storm.
Reverend Hines felt satisfied about casting his vote for Jefferson who he thought possessed compassion and exuded hope for a brighter future for white citizens who were suffering greatly during the pandemic.
The presidential inauguration was held that evening during television's prime time instead of the traditional noon hour on January twentieth. At Senator Jefferson's request, the event was to be absent of the traditional pomp and ceremony on account of the worldwide crisis. There was no parade, no balls, and no immense crowd on the Capitol Mall. The inauguration took place inside the United States Capitol.
Reverend Hines, an associate pastor at Greenfield Lutheran Church of God, was a media personality because of the radio talk-show he hosted. His dark, thick hair complimented his handsome facial features. He admittedly carried fifteen pounds more than he desired on his five-ten frame. His schoolteacher wife, Cheryl, possessed a fit and trim physique at age of forty-three. She was two years the reverend's junior with short-cropped blond hair and blue eyes. Twenty years ago she had been a runner-up for Miss Michigan.
Their son, Bryant, was a high school senior. He possessed his father's features. Their daughters, Stacy and Megan, were respectively twelve and ten years old and favored their mother's appearance.
After finishing dinner, the Hines family settled into their spacious family room in front of a large, wall-mounted solar-powered television. The family resided in an attractive, well-kept, two-story, four-bedroom, energy-efficient home in an upper middle-class area of Greenfield, a sprawling city in the metro area of Detroit. The neighborhood was composed primarily of people of color with a smattering of professional Caucasians.
Bryant rested comfortably in a high-back upholstered chair with his feet outstretched.
Megan was sandwiched between her parents on the sofa.
Stacy was sprawled on the carpeted floor thumbing through a teen magazine, desperately wanting to see girls of her skin tone featured. She wore a sweatshirt with "Pale & Proud", the slogan of the National Association for the Welfare & Equality of White People, printed on the shirt.
"... Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States!" the Chief Justice of the United States announced after he swore Corbin Edward Jefferson into office as the nation and world watched on satellite television.
A thunderous applause erupted inside the historic Capitol Building.
The Hines clan was glued to their TV. They watched as President Jefferson, tall, trim, middle aged, and with a medium-brown complexion, stood proudly on the elevated stage before a massive crowd. He was attired in a dark tailored suit. He smiled graciously at his supporters and well-wishers, who were still on their feet pounding their palms together.
President Jefferson stood poised and waved to the admiring crowd. He readied to give his inaugural speech.
Dewey Washington watched the telecast that evening in the solitude of his lavish second-floor office at The Michigan Globe newspaper in Greenfield. He was the founder, president, publisher, and CEO, which, in the past, would have been considered a significant achievement for an African American relative to a mainstream publication. He'd established The Globe, as it was commonly referred to, after gaining valuable experience employed at some of the nation's most prestigious newspapers such as The Detroit Free Press, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. He'd won a proud number of journalism awards for his stellar reporting that some of his ideological critics labeled "liberal." He never dodged or denied the characterization.
Washington was an American-born, dark complexioned black man. He commonly wrote thought-provoking articles, fiery prose, and stinging exposes about injustice and inequality in America.
In regard to the plight of pale-skinned citizens and the skin cancer pandemic, Washington likened their situation to an eclipse due to the decline of their political power and influence, and their economic clout. He was credited for coining the phrase "eclipse" as a metaphor that depicted the transition of power, control, wealth, and privilege in the United States from white citizens to citizens of color.
Washington's sentiment was that pale-skinned citizens were treated like lepers since the pandemic.
That evening Washington was eager to hear and learn what President Jefferson might say about the global warming crisis and the resulting skin cancer pandemic. He was personally concerned about the environment and global warming. He had made the edifice of The Globe environmentally friendly by installing solar panels and thermal self-heating windows throughout the facility. Twin wind towers on the premises served as prominent landmarks. Geo-thermal heat pumps were installed in the basement to recover energy, which The Globe sold back to energy companies. Fluorescent lights and lamps and thermal doors were installed throughout the building.
Washington turned up the volume of the large, wall-mounted solar-powered TV in his office. He rocked back in his plush black padded leather chair as he focused his attention on the screen.
"My fellow Americans," President Jefferson began, "I stand before you with honor and great anticipation as the newly elected president of the United States. I stand before you with great pride and an unwavering commitment to discharge my sworn duties during a time of worldwide crisis.
"America and countries throughout the world are in the throes of rampant flooding, extensive drought, land erosion, and wildfires. Drastic climate change has generated widespread infectious diseases as well as a skin cancer pandemic caused by ultra-violet light. We're well informed that this tragedy came about as a result of the widespread destruction of the ozone layer. Scientists have described this condition as the `global warming mega-effect' brought on by an accelerated burning of fossil fuels, the vast destruction of the world's forest, an exponential increase in population growth, and decades of human neglect. The pandemic has caused the deaths of thousands and has accounted for incapacitating a great number of our citizens. It's a man-made disaster!
"As your president, I intend to carry out my duties on behalf of the American people with due diligence, unparalleled integrity, and moral principles. I intend to be forthright with you. I will not sugarcoat, smooth over, or make an end-run in regard to the state of our nation. I will be candid and speak bluntly. Truth and honesty is what American citizens want and deserve from their president, and I promise to deliver them to you this evening and throughout my administration."
The audience consisted of members of the legislature, military brass, cabinet officials, noted dignitaries, and prominent guests who hung on the president's every word. They rose to their feet and rendered an arousing applause.
"A very good beginning," Reverend Hines said to his family. His wife and children were equally captivated by the president's remarks.
Dewey Washington smiled as he recorded notes on a white legal pad.
"The global warming mega-effect and the resulting skin cancer pandemic have impacted many aspects of America such as our economy, the livelihoods of a great number of our citizens, healthcare costs, and our national security," President Jefferson informed.
"The reality is that we humans collectively got ourselves in this predicament due to corporate greed, politicians' ambivalence, and national neglect. The United States and countries of the world were apprised of the greenhouse effect as early as 1930. In 1957, American scientists warned that humans were conducting a `large-scale geophysical experiment', by adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. In 1975, atmospheric chemists cautioned that chlorofluorocarbons, known as CFCs, were threatening the ozone layer. Because of the large emission of CFCs, a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctica was reported in 1985. It was summarily disregarded by most U.S. politicians. Two decades later, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that the ice cap was warming faster than the rest of the planet and that ice was receding largely as a result of greenhouse gases. The foreseen catastrophic scenario for the Arctic ecosystem has proven accurate.
"In 1990, ninety-three nations agreed to eliminate the production of CFCs and other ozone-destroying chemicals, but the United States was conspicuously absent from that gathering. The truth of the matter is that too many American politicians and corporations ignored scientific warnings in regard to global warming. Politicians and leaders of corporations chose to protect the profits of corporations whose leaders spent fortunes lobbying Congress to win favors and to court influence inside the White House. As a result, a great number of politicians stroked the heads of their ozone-destroying corporate pets and provided them with what amounted to virtual immunity from fines and penalties for polluting the environment and the atmosphere. These corporate pets discharged enormous amounts of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere and were allowed to operate virtually unchecked, unfettered, and unregulated. This past practice is a large part of the equation that has contributed mightily to the current melanoma cancer pandemic, as well as other maladies created by the global warming mega-effect that has destroyed and ruined untold lives here at home and abroad."
The president stood poised and erect. His visage grew more earnest. "He's certainly a man of integrity and compassion. I really appreciate his candor," Reverend Hines said to his family.
"I admire his courage and compassion," Cheryl commented. "This is not an easy message to give by attacking American corporations. I'm pleased that he possesses the courage, integrity, and conviction to stand up and say these things."
"... I understand that my remarks regarding American corporations are not popular with many segments and won't win their support and blessing," the President said. "But this doesn't concern me. I'm most concerned about winning the battle against the global warming mega-effect and halting its destruction and progression. That's foremost what I'm concerned about!"
A vast number of the gathering stood and applauded. Those uninspired remained seated.
"I realize that a good number of people will think I'm being unduly critical of American businesses and corporations. I also understand that my remarks are unprecedented for a presiding president of the United States. No matter, I feel at liberty to speak bluntly because it will no longer be beneficial for American businesses and corporations to fold up their tents and pitch them elsewhere outside the United States and play one country against the other. The global warming mega-effect has impacted the world's environment, economy, health and safety. As a result, the World Organization of Global Warming Control, consisting of all industrial nations and most third-world countries, will meet to establish worldwide standards to govern the way businesses operate. We have a worldwide problem and the nations of the world will tackle the problem together, head-on, through harmony, consistent policies, and unparalleled cooperation."
The President paused and then said, "It's not only businesses and corporations that got us into this worldwide crisis and need to be held accountable. Individuals are also responsible and that's why individual citizens - one and all - will be expected to take measures to significantly reduce practices and behaviors that contribute to global warming."
The inspired gathering rose to its feet and applauded.
Dewey Washington beamed. He couldn't recall being so impressed and moved by a president's inaugural speech since John F. Kennedy's when he beseeched American citizens to not ask what their country can do for them, but, rather, what they could do for their country; and when Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president, advocated change and united and electrified a diversified citizenry.
"Most Americans are unaware that we humans live at the bottom of a deep and vast ocean called the atmosphere, which is essential for life on Earth," President Jefferson enlightened. "Without the atmosphere, humans, animals, or plants could not exist. This immense ocean contains gases needed by organisms to breathe, as well as for other vital functions of life. The atmosphere serves as a shield that protects living things on Earth from cosmic rays and deadly solar radiation. Atmosphere carries sound waves, which makes it possible to hear voices and music. It also allows light waves to disperse into places that otherwise would be dark. If there were no atmosphere, the sky would appear solid black. Blue daytime skies, red sunsets, and rainbows would not exist. This is scientific fact.
"As essential as the atmosphere is, many might rightfully ask, or need to question, why have we humans neglected the significance of the atmosphere for so many years? But no more! Not during my administration!"
Many in the audience stood and applauded.
"It's mind-boggling and irresponsible for humans to have neglected the atmosphere as we have!" President Jefferson asserted. "Now a human calamity has been created. Former Vice President Al Gore came to Capitol Hill in 2007, more than three decades ago, and sagely warned that the United Stares didn't have time to play around with global warming and that there was a planetary emergency. The environmental emergency Mr. Gore warned the world about has arrived in the form of the present worldwide crisis. My administration will diligently hold America's businesses and corporations more accountable in regard to carbon dioxide, CFC, and other pollutant emissions. As well, all American citizens will be held responsible to incorporate energy saving measures.
"Every citizen will be expected to help mitigate the destruction of the global warming mega-effect. People of the world have an ethical obligation to practice environmental reciprocity, which is not just the job of government and business. Every American citizen will be expected to do his and her part."
The vast majority of the gathering was on its feet rendering a long and clamorous ovation.
"Good for you, Mr. President!" Reverend Hines shouted at the TV screen as though his voice was audible to the president. His family was amused.
"The man is masterful," Dewey Washington remarked as he cleaned his spectacles and fitted them back on his face.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Eclipse Bluesby W. James Richardson Copyright © 2009 by W. James Richardson. Excerpted by permission.
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