Jim Crow at Eagle Mountain

When he was at Paschal, John Dan played in the band. I think the football team lost every game they attended then, just as when Mary Ann was in school.
During John Dan's teen years, he spent a lot of time sailing. One summer, maybe two, he joined a group of men who had a racing club. They invited him to race with them. Soon he won all of the trophies, and they stopped inviting him to the races.
I remember one poignant incident about that. These races were held at private clubs like the Eagle Mountain Sailing Club where he took lessons on Tom and Agnes' membership.
One week-end John Dan wanted to take his "Friend" who was black to be his crew. He discussed it with me. I knew what the attitude of "Private" club members might be. I told John Dan that he would have to decide what he would do if he and his "Friend" were asked to leave the Club. I knew that was possible.
As a teen-ager, he decided that it was not the time for him to take that kind of stand, maybe embarrassing him and his friend.
It hurt me deeply for John Dan to have to become aware of the "Cold, Cruel World".