Rev. Clyde Washington

Disclaimer: While place descriptions and news events may coincide with the real world, all characters and the plot are fictional. 
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
The Washington family goes back to the 1700s in the US. 
Clyde was raised in Texas. His father and brother were both named Cage Washington.
=== Work ===
Rev. Clyde Washington is the pastor of a Black Baptist Church in the Portsmouth neighborhood in Portland. The Portsmouth church is built of brick with a huge cross hung above its front doors. 
He has been a civil rights leader in Portland for decades. He helped lead the Black community when it struggled for fairer treatment from police in the 1990s. He was there fighting for better housing in the 2000s. 
Emily says Rev Washington preaches about brotherhood, rather than hellfire and brimstone. 
==== Book 1: Stories We Tell ====
When Cage calls him on Wednesday May 27, 2020, Rev Washington declines to be interviewed about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis MN. It would put a bullseye not only on him, but on his church, and he won't risk the community he serves.
Rev. Washington is one of the speakers at the Peninsula Park vigil on May 29, 2020, but does not follow the march downtown.
==== Book 2: Choose ====
At 2am on Sunday October 18, Rev. Washington is sitting in the OHSU waiting room with Cage when Sarah King comes out. She tells Cage that J.J. has no permanent physical injuries, although he's still psychologically at risk. Cage introduces his father to Sarah, and tells her that his Dad has volunteered to take in J.J. when he is released from hospital. Rev Washington asks why J.J. felt he needed to take his own life. Sarah explains about J.J.'s father intentionally shooting him with non-lethal ammo. Rev Washington leaves his contact info with the front desk and leaves.
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
Cage, Sarah, Emily, Ryan and Rafael join Clyde and Martha Washington for dinner at the Portsmouth parsonage on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Rev Clyde asks about J.J. Cage says J.J.'s listless, not bouncing back, and may still be at risk of trying again. Sarah has talked to J.J. by phone, and agrees with Cage, but says J.J. is grateful to be coming to stay with the Washington's and talked animatedly about Carroll. Rev Washington says they can keep a discreet suicide watch. He asks about J.J.'s PSU classes, and EWN participation. Rev Washington says he's picking J.J. up the following morning, and they will have a long discussion. Rev Washington has been visiting, but J.J. has been very quiet. Sarah says J.J. will need counseling, and asks if the Washingtons can do that, or if someone independent is better? Rev Washington agrees it should be done by someone else, especially as J.J. is of a different faith. While J.J. is Jewish, it seems more a cultural than religious affinity. Rev Washington gave J.J. the alternative of either attending a local synagogue, or joining the Washingtons at Baptist services, and J.J. perked up a bit at attending with them. When Emily offers to help with the dishes, Mrs Washington says it's Clyde's turn to clean the kitchen.
When Ryan arrives back at the Washington home around midnight, Rev Washington is still awake, but Martha has gone to bed. Rev Washington is due to meet with Dr Clarke and J.J. at 10am the next day. He asks if Ryan wants to be there. Ryan asks about Rafael, and Rev Washington says that Martha is willing to watch him. Bianica is also willing to help Ryan with child care. Ryan tells him about the car watching EWN, and Rev Washington says he'll warn his wife, and they'll keep the doors locked. Rev Washington tells Ryan to get some sleep, breakfast will be at 7am and Rafael may be awake even earlier.
Rev Washington knocks on Ryan's bedroom door at 6am the following morning, and Ryan wakes Rafael. Rev Washington takes Rafael to get cleaned up for breakfast, so Ryan can shower etc. Rev Washington and Rafael are already sitting at the table when Ryan comes downstairs.Rev Washington leaves to go to OHSU, and Ryan asks him to tell Dr Clarke that he will be making an appointment.
Rev Washington arrives at OHSU at 11am, unsure what to expect from J.J. Cage and Sarah are seated in the waiting room with J.J., who is laughing. Cage has been telling J.J. about Ryan and Rafael. Dr Clarke takes Rev Washington into her office to complete paperwork. She is still privately concerned about J.J., and says if he wasn't going to the Washington home, she'd lock him down for 30 days. Rev Washington catches her up with Ryan's news, and tells her that Ryan will call for an appointment. Cage, Sarah, Rev Washington and J.J. leave together, and Carroll is waiting for J.J. outside. Cage introduces Carroll to Rev Washington. J.J. ask Rev Washington if he can continue to work at EWN, and Rev Washington says he's not J.J.'s keeper, he gets to decide that himself. J.J. says he can go to EWN after his history class the following morning. Cage and Sarah need to get to class, so Cage hugs J.J. and his dad, and tells them he'll be coming out for supper that night. Rev Washington takes J.J. back to the Portsmouth parsonage, telling him he has people to meet.
When Ryan arrives back at the parsonage in Emily's car that evening, Rev Washington opens the front door, and supports Ryan while wishing Emily a safe drive home. He offers Ryan Excedrin for his migraine
After lunch on Sunday, October 25, 2020, Rev Washington tells Ryan that a neighbor had called to let them know they were under surveillance. There is a black car parked down the street, similar to the one that had been seen near EWN. Rev Washington recommends Ryan not take Rafael off the property. Corey installed surveillance cameras at the parsonage a few years earlier following some vandalism at the church, and ICE agents are likely to be white and won't blend into the neighborhood. Ryan is concerned he is putting the Washingtons in jeopardy, but Rev Washington says that his family goes back to the 1700s in the USA - only the indigenous people have deeper ties than Black people - so ICE doesn't worry him. His sons are at risk every day that they go into a white neighborhood - and in Portland, all neighborhoods are white - but he is not going to back down and let them take a 3-year-old in his care. Ryan says his concern is that Rev Washington will be hurt trying to protect Rafael, and he's important to the Black community, they can't afford to lose him. Rev Washington says he's not going anywhere.
Rev. Washington returns home late on Thursday November 5, 2020 after visiting the mother of a young man who was killed by Vancouver police. He is heartbroken about the death of another Black man. Martha greets him with a warm dinner, and a postcard from Ryan Matthews. They had both been worried, and Ryan has a long road ahead of him before he is whole. He takes the card, smiles, and hugs Martha.
== Physical Appearance ==
Rev. Washington is a Black man in his early 50s, with a rumbling voice. He is 6-foot-2 tall, and has the same build as Cage, although with some extra pounds of age. He has little, if any, grey hair.
=== Health ===
Rev. Washington has high blood pressure and is pre-diabetic.
On December 2, 2020, Rev. Washington is taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center by his wife, with COVID. He is admitted to ICU. Family are not permitted to visit.
== Personality ==
=== Book 1: Stories We Tell ===
Cage records his father talking about peace and justice and reality. Rev Washington says, "We are called to care for our neighbors. How can we ignore that they are treated unfairly? ... When there is justice, we will have peace. Not a threat, but a promise."
== Relationships ==
=== Family ===
==== Book 1: Stories We Tell ====
Rev. Washington is married to Martha, and they have three adult sons: Gregory, Cage, and Corey. By 2020, all of his sons have left home, though they visit regularly for dinner on Sunday afternoons. He watches the EWN broadcasts, and thinks they're doing a good job of covering what the protest is about, not just the conflict. He warns Cage to be careful, reminded of the civil rights protests of the 1960s where people died. He doesn't go to bed until the documentary stops each night. 
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
Rev Washington calls Corey before 11am on Sunday, October 25, 2020 to say that Corey, Cage and Sarah are expected for lunch at 1pm that day, after services. Sarah says she'd like to hear Rev Washington preach sometime. Sarah asks if their parents have met Carroll. Cage says his dad has, and was cool, but asked if Cage had talked to J.J. about 'things'. Corey says better him than their father, as a teenager he didn't think he'd ever recover from the embarrassment of Rev Washington's sex talk. Cage suggests Sarah have 'the talk' with J.J. but Sarah says J.J was probably taught to fall in love with a nice girl and get married, and both lose their virginity on their wedding night. Corey says she does know the lecture they got from their dad. 
==== Book 4: Hold Me ====
* Monday November 30, 2020 - Gregory has dinner with his parents at the Portsmouth parsonage.
== Residence ==
Clyde and Martha Washington live in the parsonage adjacent to the Portsmouth Baptist Church. The parsonage is a two-story brick house.