Low Road

by Eddie B. Allen, Jr.

  What will likely be the most lasting impact of Mr. Goines’s writing, however, extends beyond any of his relatives and descendants. It will be the realism with which he captured and portrayed the struggles and small, occasional victories of those who encountered the most tempting and often difficult challenges of being people of color in urban America. Rap artists, such as Nas, who recorded the lyrics “My life is like a Donald Goines novel” for a 1997 song, filmmakers like John Singleton, and thousands of teenagers, many of whom are still discovering Mr. Goines’s work, strive to duplicate his authenticity. They strive to display the swagger of Earl the Pearl, the cunning of Eldorado Red, the fearlessness of Kenyatta. College-course instructors and admirers, such as Robert Skinner, point to Mr. Goines’s writing as creativity with a great deal more depth than what was attributed to it during his brief career.

  “I think it’s safe to say that any discussion of noir fiction or the African-American crime story is incomplete without including Goines,” says Skinner, an author and librarian at Xavier University in New Orleans. Skinner says Mr. Goines’s close identification with the concerns and struggles of his characters is apparent.

  “There’s no book that I’ve read that illustrates this better than Daddy Cool,” he continues, “which I understand is an important cult favorite in Europe, where Goines … still has a considerable audience. Daddy Cool is a real urban tragedy in which concepts of ‘love’ are twisted by the environment. That Daddy Cool is killed at the end of the story isn’t the ultimate tragedy—it’s the fact that the one person in the world that he loves unreservedly, his daughter, is so corrupted by the pimp she falls in love with that she turns on her father and protector.

  “There’s a great deal more that can be said about Goines. I think he continues to have an audience among African-Americans because he has created strong, black protagonists who have risen above white oppression in the only way they can, and who control their own destinies within a hostile environment.”

  * * *

  At Detroit Memorial, I find myself the only visitor a short time before its attendants close their gates to the public on a Thursday afternoon. When I arrive, I quickly navigate the circular paths that lead to my target area. I’m looking for Section 38, Marker No. 2014. But I’ve chosen a bad day to look for Mr. Goines’s burial site, and there probably won’t be any good days until the spring begins and the weather breaks. Hardened snow crunches under my feet as I walk through the empty cemetery. I look carefully, but nearly the entire ground is covered. Across the expansive acres, artificial flowers and wreaths laid at grave sites blast a colorful contrast against the snow. The striking difference between death and life is apparent in the complete stillness of my surroundings, where birds chirping is the only recognizable sound. I pace in various directions around Section 38, finding no signs of grass and not knowing whether the stiff areas that I step on are headstones or sheets of ice. I kick randomly at spots that I have a weak hunch might be the marker I need. At one point, I stop and wait, feeling that I may be psychically led to the site, but it doesn’t happen. I take a last look around, attempting to absorb some energetic vibration. Then I see a car that I believe has been sent to search the grounds for people like me before the cemetery closes. At this point, I know I have to leave. I crunch my way back through the snow, feeling a little disappointed but not discouraged. Wherever the particular spot may be, I know Mr. Goines’s remains are at rest. I hope the same can be said for his weary spirit. I get into my truck and drive past the tall monuments and religious idols toward Detroit Memorial’s gates. It hasn’t been such an unsettling visit. I’ll be back again one day.

  Notes on Sources

  In addition to personal interviews, vital records, government documents, historical reference publications, and Donald Goines’s novels, news clippings, personal notes, and data from three electronic World Wide Web sites were used to support the assertions of this biography. Sources are listed chronologically and indicated with attribution.

  Preface

  —Donald Goines, Dopefiend (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1971): character and plot descriptions.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  Prelude: Death in Retrospect

  —Interviews with Charles Glover, Marie Richardson, and Joan Coney, 1999–2000.

  Maturing

  —Interview with Robin Ussery: quoted material.

  —Interview with Marie Richardson, 2001: Evanston 1934 recount and early Goines/Baugh family information.

  —Pulaski County Certificate of Marriage: George Baugh/Clairette Ford.

  —Interviews with Lynda Crist, Jefferson Davis Papers Project, and William Cooper Jr., author of Jefferson Davis, American (New York: Knopf, 2001), 2002: background on Davis estate and slave ownership.

  —Interview with Betty Dooley, 2002: Little Rock farming information.

  —U.S. 1910 Census: Baugh residence data.

  —C. Vann Woodward, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, third edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974): lynching, mob violence, and most race-discrimination background before 1970.

  —Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Alan Steinberg, Black Profiles in Courage: A Legacy of African-American Achievement (New York: Avon Books, 1996): Brownsville episode and supplemental information about southern racist incidents.

  —State of Michigan Certificate of Live Birth: Donald Goines’s birth information.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —Interview with Roman Godzak, Catholic Diocese, 2002: Catholic schools background.

  —Catholic Diocese academic transcript: Donald Goines’s admission date, records.

  —Detroit Board of Education academic transcript: Donald Goines’s public schools, courses, and grades.

  War

  —Donald Goines, Whoreson (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1972): quoted material.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —David Lee Poremba, Detroit: A Motor City History (Charleston: Arcadia, 2002): supplemental Detroit history.

  —“Minnie the Moocher,” performed by Cab Calloway: quoted material.

  —Interview with Marie Richardson: quoted material and family background information.

  —Detroit Board of Education academic transcript: Donald Goines’s public schools, courses, and grades.

  —C. Vann Woodward, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, third edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974): lynching, mob violence, and most race-discrimination background before 1970.

  —Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds., Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience (Boston: Basic Civitas Books, 1999): most background on nationally and internationally known historical figures, events, and institutions.

  Dope Fiend

  —Interview with Paul Lee: quoted material.

  —Joan Coney, with Marie Richardson and Charles Glover, “Memories of a Street Writer,” unpublished writings: recount of Donald Goines’s return from the military; his use of heroin; writing career; and relationships with women, sons, and daughters.

  —Interview with Marie Richardson and Joan Coney: recollections of their parents and brother.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —C. Vann Woodward, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, third edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974): lynching, mob violence, and most race-discrimination background before 1970.

  —Melba Pattillo Beals, Warriors Don’t Cry (New York: Pocket Books, 1994): Central High School episode
and quoted material.

  —Interview with William Shackleford, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2002: “white slavery” file information.

  Cash and Bitches

  —Donald Goines, Daddy Cool (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): quoted material.

  —Interview with Sam Greenlee, 2002, and Hoodlum motion picture Website: supplemental information about policy/numbers hustle.

  —Interview with Charles Glover, 1999: Temptations, trunk prisoner, canary, and boosting anecdotes.

  —Recorder’s Court, City of Detroit court records: information about Goines, Hawkins, Higgins crimes and sentencing.

  —U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit records: information about Goines and Stewart crimes and sentencing.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —Elaine Latzman Moon, comp., Untold Tales, Unsung Heroes: An Oral History of Detroit’s African American Community 1918–1967 (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1993): Romney recount of response to 1967 rebellion.

  The Joint

  —Donald Goines, White Man’s Justice, Black Man’s Grief (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1973): quoted material.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —Random House College Dictionary: Terre Haute history.

  —Terre Haute U.S. Prison public affairs office: size of facility.

  —Letter from Marie Richardson to Donald Goines, date unknown: quoted material.

  —Donald Goines’s prison vocabulary test: quoted material.

  —Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds., Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience (Boston: Basic Civitas Books, 1999): most background on nationally and internationally known historical figures, events, and institutions.

  —Joe Louis Moore, The Legacy of the Panthers: A Photographic Exhibition (Berkeley: The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation/Inkworks Press, 1995): supplemental information about the Black Panthers.

  —C. Vann Woodward, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, third edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974): lynching, mob violence, and most race-discrimination background before 1970.

  —Interview with Eddie B. Allen Sr, 2002: background on Hanoi Hannah.

  —Interview with Bill Thomas, 2002: background on conscientious objection.

  —Michigan Department of Corrections record, received 8/15/69: inmate information.

  —Interview with Marie Richardson and Joan Coney: recollections of their brother.

  —World Wide Web posting of 1973 Los Angeles Free Press interview: quoted Iceberg Slim material.

  —Handwritten manuscript pages for the book Whoreson: quoted material.

  —Letter from Mildred Pruett, dated Nov. 4, 1969: quoted material.

  Publisher

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  —S. Torriano Berry with Venise T. Berry, The 50 Most Influential Black Films: A Celebration of African-American Talent, Determination, and Creativity (New York: Citadel Press, 2001): 1970s film background.

  —Interview with Bentley Morriss, June 2002: background on Iceberg Slim and Holloway House.

  —Eldridge Cleaver, Soul on Ice (New York: Dell Publishing, 1968): quoted material.

  —Robert Beck, Pimp (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1967): quoted material.

  —Interview with Paul Lee, 2002: observed Breitman lawsuit paperwork housed at the Tamiment Library, New York.

  —Joan Coney, with Marie Richardson and Charles Glover, “Memories of a Street Writer,” unpublished writings: recount of Donald Goines’s return from the military; his use of heroin; writing career; and relationships with women, sons, and daughters.

  —Donald Goines, Dopefiend (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1971): quoted material.

  —Letter from unidentified Holloway House editor, December 29, 1970.

  —Holloway House writer’s agreement: quoted material.

  West Coast

  —Interview with Robert Skinner: quoted material.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds., Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience (Boston: Basic Civitas Books, 1999): most background on nationally and internationally known historical figures, events, and institutions.

  —Interview with Marie Teasley, 2002: recount of meeting with Donald Goines at Michigan Chronicle.

  —Joan Coney, with Marie Richardson and Charles Glover, “Memories of a Street Writer,” unpublished writings: recount of Donald Goines’s return from military; his use of heroin; writing career; and relationships with women, sons, and daughters.

  —Interview with Raymond Stevens, 2001: background on Shorty Hunt and neighborhood.

  —Donald Goines, Whoreson (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1972): excerpted material.

  —Donald Goines, Kenyatta’s Last Hit (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1975): Myrtle Goines’s dedication.

  —Donald Goines, Black Gangster (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1972): plot and character description.

  —Interview with Ralph Watts, 2002: background of Sailor family.

  —S. Torriano Berry with Venise T. Berry, The 50 Most Influential Black Films: A Celebration of African-American Talent, Determination, and Creativity (New York: Citadel Press, 2001): 1970s film background.

  —PBS television Web posting: background on zoot-suit conflict.

  —Interview with Bentley Morriss, June 2002: recount of Donald Goines’s arrival and experience living in L.A.

  —Undated letter to potential publisher: excerpted material.

  —“Private Thoughts,” letter dated September 1, 1973: excerpted material.

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  Prodigal Son

  —Donald Goines, Never Die Alone (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): quoted material.

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  —Interview with Walter Williamson, 2003: recount of Donald Goines’s return from L.A.

  —Donald Goines, Street Players (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1973): plot and character descriptions.

  —Donald Goines, White Man’s Justice, Black Man’s Grief (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1973): quoted material.

  —Donald Goines, Black Girl Lost (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1973): plot and character descriptions.

  —Donald Goines, Eldorado Red (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): plot and character descriptions.

  —Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds., Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience (Boston: Basic Civitas Books, 1999): most background on nationally and internationally known historical figures, events, and institutions.

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  —Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw, eds., The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City (Detroit: Detroit Free Press, 2001): most Detroit-specific history.

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  —Joan Coney, with Marie Richardson and Charles Glover, “Memories of a Street Writer,” unpublished writings: recount of Donald Goines’s return from the military; his use of heroin; writing career; and relationships with women, sons, and daughters.

  —“Inner City Blues,” performed by Marvin Gaye: quoted material.

  —Donald Goines, Inner City Hoodlum (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1975): plot and character descriptions.

  —Last will and testament of Donald Goines, May 11, 1974: excerpted material.

  —Cry Revenge and Kenyatta’s Escape: book covers.

  —Interview with Bentley Morriss, June 2002: quoted material.
r />   —Donald Goines, Swamp Man (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): excerpted material.

  —Donald Goines, Daddy Cool (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): quoted material.

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  —Donald Goines, Dopefiend (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1971): quoted material.

  —Donald Goines, Crime Partners (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): quoted material.

  —Donald Goines, Death List (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): plot and characters.

  —Donald Goines, Never Die Alone (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974): quoted material.

  —Undated personal note: quoted material.

  —Personal note, dated Oct. 18, [1974]: quoted material.

  —Interview with Ralph Watts, 2002: recount of trip to see Ronnie.

  —Interview with Joan Coney, 2002: recount of reaction to Donald Goines/Shirley Sailor murders.

  —Detroit News, “Three Murdered in Highland Park,” Oct. 23, 1974: quoted material.

  —State of Michigan Certificate of Death, 1974: quoted material.

  Legacy: An Epilogue

  —Clippings from unidentified French newspapers: quoted material.

  —Donald Goines, Kenyatta’s Last Hit (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1975): quoted material.

  —Telephone interview with Bentley Morriss: recount of Carleton Hollander contribution.

  —Letter to Marie Richardson from Seymour Fieg: quoted material.

  —Chicago Reader article, November 15, 2002: quoted material.

  —Highland Park Police investigative summaries: quoted material.

  —Interview with Craig Ciccone: quoted material.

  —Interview with Sgt. William McClain: recollections of Billy Quinn.

  —Computer e-mail: quoted material.

  —Interview with Billy Quinn: quoted material.

  —Detroit News article dated March 1, 1987: quoted material.

  —Interview with Ralph Watts: quoted material.

  —Interview with Walter Williamson: quoted material.