In Memory of My Friend – St Clair Brathwaite 8-10-97
It wa a cool, rainy New Year’s Eve and I was attending the City of Quincy ‘s “First Night” celebration. I was drawn to the steel band performance beckoning from a tent in the middle of the Square. The instrumental music created a happy, harmonious and warming welcome to 1993. I stood next to a powerfully built black man who was all concentration and delicacy as he played his steel drum. An always appreciative musician myself , as I began to walk away at at song’s end, I made a quick good-bye,”Hey, your music is great, thanks!” He looked up with a wide flashing and friendly smile and replied, “Thanks, man. Happy New Year!” Ten months later when I began working with the Visitng Nurse Association of Boston we met officially and St Clair and I became weekend partners and friends for the next four years. He taxi’d me to patients’ homes for eleven, twelve, sometimes thirteen hours each Saturday , Sunday and many holidays. He always kept watch over me and kept me “street-wise” on the same though very different Dorchester and Roxbury streets where my parents and parents-in-law grew up in the 1920’s,1930’s, and 1940’s before moving to Quincy .
During our drives in his spotless cab St Clair and I would listen to radio sports events and talk shows, or jazz and on Sunday “Jammin Joe Jackson’s” Carribean music show on WILD. We shared a musician’s love for music as the universal language , but both being in our late forties neither of us cared for the music or language of rap. “Oh, Lord”, he’d laugh,”I can’t take much of that!” Eating quick lunches in the front seat of the cab or at “The King’s” ( Burger King) we would talk about work, world happenings ,health ,our childhoods, families and plans. He told me he hoped to buy a home right here in the city , in the community and with the people he knew and cared about. St Clair knew every street by heart and so often as we drove through the neighborhoods he’d roll down his window and exchange salutes and greetings with so many people , young and old. From his own taxi business, driving for ITOA, running a small store for a time, auto body work with his great friend Roderick, helping with youth center dances ,being “The Captain” of the Jammers Community Steel Band, maintaining and improving the Geneva Ave. “pan yard” and being a star player in the annual Carribean Carnival – it seemed he knew almost everyone in the neighborhood and almost every one knew St Clair. They all knew him as a friendly and caring gentleman. So many benefitted from his generosity and kindness.
St Clair exemplified in his everyday life the basis of the Golden Rule- treat all others and their loved ones as considerately and humanely as you wish yourself and your family to be treated. Everyone was better for their contact with him. He was truly a man of quiet but profound dignity, respectfulness and responsibility. St Clair taught me what it really means to come to America from a far-off country , and to struggle for “the good life” for oneself and one’s family- and how much more difficult that is and has always been to do for a black man. He’d often say with a shake of his head, but not a trace of bitterness,”You think it’s easy?- It not easy!” Yet he had an ease and grace about him always. He had such a peaceful and good nature.
When he was discharged form the hospital just days ago he left a message on my home answering machine that was a heartfelt treasure: “Mike man , this is St Clair –thanks to you and your wife for helping with the boys and for coming to sse me in the hospital …I’m home…I love you buddy.” When I last saw him at home just a week ago, he kept saying, “I’m feeling good and strong.” Loving , good and strong- that was St Clair and his life.
As we all cherish St Clair for his devotion to family and friends, his thankful family and friends will remain dedicated to his beloved Cookie, Kareem and Malcolm. Reunited with his beloved parents, St Clair’s body will rest at home in Trinidad, but his joyful ,harmonious and loving spirit will always be at home in our hearts.
Thank you St Clair…
From your grateful and loving buddy,
Mike
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