Right from the onset, the author deals with
Reviewed by: D. Othniel Forte, Publisher, FORTE Publishing Int’l
For his mother, Sybil, this was war. She struggled to be the best mother while battling her illness. Once, even making her suicidal. Giving up was not because she was weak. But she lived in a highly judgmental society. One that chose to stigmatize not just her- for something she couldn’t control- but her children. We have all seen how families go to lengths to hide, smuggle away or outright neglect the issues surrounding mental health. The shame/stigma is so high, they would rather the victim disappear. This mother, already weighted with this battle, but wanting the best for her children, opted for a way out. One she probably believed would spare them further trouble yet, give them something any parent wants for his/her child- a fair chance in life. bowing out, might have afforded them equal opportunity with other children, and test the will and potential of her children. This must have been one, of the hardest choices, she ever made.
Interestingly, the RodX-man shows his humanness when he says, “thank God, the sun didn’t go down before they found her.” In this single line, we can see how the Rodney X version was created. He attributes his current existence not only to the events that unfolded, but to his mother’s presence to steer him through those times. He follows that line with gratitude to family but implicit in that is the fact that then, Mommy Sybil was that family that made it count. He tells us boldly that we can be certain of one thing, had the “sun” gone “down” earlier and she carried through with her plans, we would definitely NOT have had the Rodney X pen wielding maverick we know.
That analysis, from his doubt about who he would have been to his father’s obvious inability to have molded them, shows more than anything that the events are not the shaper of the man. They were but the instrument used to mold. The potter had always been the mother and his support system.
Evinced by this, we see once again being highlighted, the power of the Liberian woman. The one who goes to any length to protect and make her children the best versions of themselves. The many unsung mothers would gladly identify with this image Rodney paints of his mother. What a fitting tribute.
As much as I am tempted to stop here, I can’t do so without noting that Rodney places squarely in the public space for discourse, several critical social issues. We now have the chance to deal with the stigmatization of mental health. We can no longer pretend. We have proof, as if we needed more, that any family can be hit, hence no need for the stigma. We should focus on victims. Had we a better system, imagine what mother Sybil would have done with her full potential. Imagine what the many Mommy Sybils can do if we only supported them?
Pause briefly, think, what if we allowed them to realize their potential? I would rather dwell in the possibilities.
With all these, it is easy to see why Rodney is how he is. The Rodney X version was molded by powerful incidents of personal loss and grieve. The Rod X pen man learned what it was to value life, squeeze the happiness from it- every single moment- and perhaps most importantly, fight any system that would visit injustices on its people.
Personal loss, pain and rejection have a way with people. It drives some to submission and cowering; but again, it drives others to super humanness. If Rodney X can take from life his freedoms, it is most reasonable to understand why he would rush to the rescue of others who are being denied.
Armed with his mighty pen and a hunger for truth, is it difficult to understand why he does what he does?
Journalist on Trial
By Rodney D. Seih
288 pages
October 2018
Manor House Publishing Inc