Bourbon and Books: These Heathens
Ah, that bittersweet time of youth, when the world is an open book and you're just starting to question every assumption. It was a time of easy transformation, when shifting your perspective on life and people—and changing your core beliefs—was a much simpler, less painful affair.
“These Heathens” is a glorious reminder of those times. When it was okay to be naive so long as you were still willing to ask questions, still willing to gather knowledge.
Seventeen-year-old Doris needs an abortion, but fears her parents will find out if she consults the local midwives. For assistance, she turns to her high school teacher, Mrs. Lucas. Mrs. Lucas quickly takes Doris out of their small town and brings her to Atlanta for the weekend. In the city, a good friend of Mrs. Lucas agrees to both host the pair and cover the cost of the abortion.
Declaring “Hijinks ensued,” doesn’t quite capture the moment.
Doris's experiences transcend the typical "country bumpkin in the big city" cliché. Instead of simply focusing on the difference between rural and urban life, her adventures involve serious and meaningful interactions. These include introductions to celebrities she'd previously only read about, attending a gathering of wealthy queer Black individuals, and participating in a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee conference. These hijinks lead to profound lessons beyond mere city-country contrasts.
It was a delight to witness Doris's awakening as she began to challenge the interpretations of God, sin, and womanhood instilled by her upbringing and the church. Her weekend in Atlanta prompts Doris to explore her authentic desires and identity and rather humorously her definition of heathens. Though her ultimate destination remains unknown, the story concludes with the satisfying certainty that she embraced a truly lived life.
Equally, captivating was Mrs. Lucas’s journey back to herself which could be overlooked if you’re not paying attention to her interactions with old friends but more importantly her conversations with Doris. In a sense, Mrs. Lucas watching Doris “grow up” reminds her that we never stop growing and changing even as we move into adulthood.
On a personal note, I found myself drawn to Doris's internal struggle and ultimate reckoning with the nature of activism—specifically, the tension between non-violence and violence, and the nuances of segregation, separation, and integration. It pushed me to evaluate my own activism in today's world, considering how my views have shifted and developed in response to the current regime. In fact, this serves as the catalyst for upcoming activism that New Dawn will be supporting and leading.
Pairing this read with a French Entanglement, because fortune favors those who take life by the reigns even if some might call us heathens.
