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Marcus B. Christian--A Literary Soldier
By Deborah P. Cains
He was a soldier who was strong enough,
bold enough, and tough enough to survive.
A soldier, a pioneer, a teacher, a writer,
who was strong enough, bold
enough, and tough enough to share and
express himself enough to be
appreciated by institutions and those who
knew him and his works.
A soldier who was strong enough, bold
enough, and tough enough to endure
during a time when all seemed to be
falling apart.
Marcus Bruce Christian was strong enough,
bold enough, and tough enough to share
his keen intellect and experiences in his
diverse writings and yet not give in
to disappointment nor not being
fully recognized because he was
merely . . . Marcus B. Christian of New
Orleans.
This soldier was strong, tough, and bold
enough to express himself
in inspiring literary works although
his regional preference to dwell
was seemingly the key that locked the door
of recognition t
hat many of his contemporaries experienced
because their regional preferences
to dwell were cities in the north. This
soldier was strong enough, tough
enough, and bold enough to share and to
give anyway because he was indeed
strong, tough, and bold enough to know
that what he expressed through the written word
was great! His literary works will always
have outstanding merit,
but unfortunately he had to pay the price
for being Black and even a greater price
for being a Southerner. But still
"they" all know of his strength, toughness, and boldness . . .
and one day in the twilight of life we
will open the great anthologies and see Marcus B. Christian,
and say yes, he was strong enough, tough
enough, and bold enough to endure even in his death--
a literary soldier. * *
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