This story is really about a multicultural extended family’s experiences with a level of unity, values, and a genuine respect for each other. Strife and suffering was always present in their lives from day to day, all day. These experiences also show the less-than-admirable side of life perpetrated by the Caucasian’s insatiable desire to have it all, which always brought pain and suffering to the less fortunate. Big Joe Brown is the idealist in this manuscript; he’s the one who thought he was superior to the whites because he thought the African man to be the granddaddy of all human kind. He was the youngest of four siblings in the 1860s, whose mother (Willa) passed on giving birth to him. His father, Joe Brown Sr., was killed by the land-grabbing Klansmen when he was three years old, and as a consequence, he was raised by his older siblings on the four-hundred-acre spread their father left to them. The town is Dodge City and on the fast track of becoming more and more industrialized with the coming of the iron horse. This anticipated economic boom was enhanced by the state coming into statehood in 1861. This wild western novel reveals the deep rooted experiences between Africans, African slave descendants, Negroes, and theAmerican Native in their quest for a piece of the American dream. These ties with the native people referred to as Indians (when in actuality are one and the same as Africans), Chinese, Mexicans, and the grief they shared at the hands of the white man. They stood up for their beliefs, and many died as a result at the hands of a few who conspired to cause people of color problems in owning land. Let there be no mistake; the Caucasian brought a lot to the table, which was overshadowed by the greed from a few. Big Joe Brown is the one character who set the temperament for the entire story by becoming the target of bigotry and hate. He managed this by standing up to adversity and always lending a helping hand to everyone, including known critics. Joe Brown became the target of the white man’s secret society (Ku Klux Klan) due to his size, strength, and convictions. Joe would take you on, no matter what or who you were, as long as he felt right in doing so. Big Joe Brown was the proud owner of the Blacksmith Shop in town, which was a very well-respected business. Plus he owned a one-thousand-acre spread, beautiful ranch house, with slightly over two thousand five hundred head of cattle. Joe was a gentleman but alwayspoised for trouble when it showed up. This attitude caused many people to look to him for support as their big brother when in trouble.
Manus Anthony Edwards was born May 25th 1942, on Chicago’s, Southside, next door to Joe Louis (The Brown Bomber). He received his education at Catholic Elementary and High Schools and attended Roosevelt University. He began to work at United States Steel (South Works Plant), while a student in High School. There, his job was created for him as Assistant Grievance Committeeman, by his mentor Robert Hatch. Manus’ passion has always been writing, since childhood but as he became an adult, his writing skills began to lean towards writing grievances in defense of the rank and file where ever he was employed. Manus was twice married and is the father of six daughters and two sons.