.jpg)
Who is Harold Smith? He’s what I called, the non-perfect character to be the perfect
character. Seven years ago as I was writing this novelette, I knew I wanted
an emotionally flawed person to tell a socio-forbidden love story. I wanted to
convey a point-of-view that goes into an individual prejudice mind. The what’s,
how’s, and why’s, were so important for this character of Zion ’s Road – what racism can do to the
innocent? How a child’s negative environment can be detrimental to their
growing psyche? And, why is it so easy to hate people that don’t look like you,
worship like you, or carry political beliefs like you? Harold Smith is the
epitome of all of these questions; yet that is why he’s the perfect character
to tell this story.
I’ve been told by a few readers that Zion ’s Road was difficult to read because of
the racial epithets. Remember, he was a former Mississippian Klansman. What he
had been taught as a child, and the environment he had been a part of, was all
he knew. I’m not saying his beliefs were right, or excusing his misdeeds of his
past; I’m saying question the messenger who planted that seed.
Harold will be hated by most readers – what person would not
be if someone express their views as to why others races are second-class
citizens. However, as you read into this story, I hope you will leave from it –
not feeling sorry for racists, bigots, homophobics, or the like – but to tell
yourself that the cycle will never stop unless a courageous heart breaks free
from their ignorance.
To read an excerpt to this powerful novelette, visit my
website: www.imanwisdom.com
