Chapter 16 A Sunday to Remember
It was Sunday, December 7, 1941 as Emma and Phillip set in Church (like many others), word came about the attack at Pearl Harbor. They listened as the Pastor was interrupted by the Senior Deacon who had just been called out of the Church. Upon his return, the Deacon whispered into the ear of the Pastor who then closed his Bible and announced those horrible words that the news just said that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor and that many lives had been lost. While many did not know even where Pearl Harbor was, it was quite clear that this would change things for America and also for Emma and Phillip. The Pastor then ended his sermon, led the Church in prayer and then everyone hurried home to their radios to hear the news.
Emma continued talking with Missy as she whispered her memories of that day in 1941 just as if it was yesterday. For she knew that day would not be just like any other day but a day that again changed her life forever. Emma, Phillip and her daughter went home like so many others both White and Negro as they gathered around the radio to get as much news as they could. The news was not quick and the announcer continued to repeat that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor and that many sailors had lost their lives and many ships had
During the late evening hours Phillip began to talk quietly about his father. In fact this was the first time that Phillip had talked openly about his father with Emma. Emma did not know much about Phillip’s family and even less about his father. Emma has never met his father as Phillip’s father had died not long after coming home from Europe. Phillip actually had only feint memories of his father as his father had left his mother and the other children when he was only 3 years old. His father left the family to join in the war across the waters. “The war to end all wars”. His father was one of the many Negroes who left the farm to join the army and to fight for freedom for others who they did not even know.
Phillip shared the pride that he had even at a young age when he was able to understand that his father was a soldier. He remembered the pride that he felt when he saw his father in the uniform of the United States Army. How he boasted to all of his friends that his father was the strongest man in the world and that he could fight 100 Germans by himself.
Emma listened to Phillip and watched his eyes light up brightly as he talked about his father and the fact that he fought in World War 1. While Emma listened, she began to have a sad feeling in her heart. She was not sure why as Phillip continued to share stories that his mother had told him about his father. A man that he hardly knew. A man that came home from the war wounded and scarred by battle. A man that left home to fight for freedom to only come back home to Georgia to see that nothing had changed for his freedom. A man that would come back to plow the field for someone else’s gain. A man who would get behind a plow early in the morning before daybreak and plow until late in the evening near sunset. It was on one such day that Phillip’s father did not come home at sunset. Worried, Phillip’s mother sent him out in the fields to find his father. When Phillip saw his father, he found him slumped on the ground behind the plow. He called to him and tried shaking him but his father never answered.
Phillip then stopped talking and just set in the chair next to the radio and listened over and over at the news broadcast that had not really changed since they came home from Church. The only thing new was that President Roosevelt would speak tomorrow.
As they got ready for bed, Emma continued to have an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She could not explain it. Maybe it was the news on Pearl Harbor or maybe it was something else but she could not explain the feeling as she tried to sleep but could only toss and turn not knowing what tomorrow would bring.