Reginald St. James

The City Boy

## Introduction

**Reginald St. James** is a young African-American who grew up in a middle class family. He is a curious intellectual at heart, quick-witted and clever; not the proverbial know it all. As a child he has always been fascinated about the west through reading publications of the Lewis & Clark expedition, including the more recent stories of cowboys, outlaws, and natives. Reginald desires to experience for himself the glory of legends and events that took place over the past 80 years.

## Biography

**His Adult Years**

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University Reginald holds a Master's in Social Sciences. He is also an enthusiast of the physical sciences (archeology, geology, astronomy and physics) all due to reading the stories of Jules Verne & H.G. Wells, along with accompanying his fellow alumni & colleagues on their extra-curricular activities.

Aware that knowledge changes one's life, Reginald's father with the help of the church made sure that Reginald received the best education they could afford him.

**Life Before Academia**

During his younger years Reginald gained a wealth of streetwise interactions hanging out with some less than privileged friends while growing up in the city of Philadelphia, PA. As he entered his early twenties a by-chance encounter with Booker T. Washington inspired a new direction for his life.

**The St. James Family**

His father **Wilson St. James** is an associate pastor, counselor and somewhat prominent figure within the community who wants Reginald to pursue the same path as he. Reginald's father has also selected a potential wife for him, but Reginald is conflicted with this pre-determined destiny which includes the girl who's a bit whiny, high-maintenance, boring and full of herself. She is the proverbial know it all.

His mother **Willemina**  **St. James** chairs two local social committees in the city. She is a woman who could hold her own and is well respected among various communities around town.

His uncle **Jebediah St. James** is an adventurous 51 year-old Civil War veteran (one of the youngest soldiers inducted into the Union Army at 16 years old in 1864.) Jebediah moved to San Francisco with a few of his former fellow platoon brothers in pursuit of wealth. Knowing his nephew's yearnings to venture west, Jebediah sends letters accompanied by photos of his western adventures and discoveries to his family back home and would welcome a pair of younger strong hands to assist him in his mining supplies business.

**Reginald's Family Legacy**

Before he was born Reginald's grandfather, father and their church were very instrumental in *Harriett Tubman's Underground Railroad* where they would receive escapees from slavery. In doing so the church's basement served as a rest stop well beyond the "Mason Dixon Line" for refugees on their journey to Canada and farther north.

**The Detour to Odessa State**

Encouraged by his uncle to just come visit California and against his father's urgings, Reginald sets out by train on his journey to California, but as he nears the State of Odessa he pulls out articles and maps of the legendary providence pouring over them like a student in prep of an exam. The climax of excitement entices him to make a slight detour to his scheduled arrival for Northern California… maybe for a week or two.