Cowbells and Ding Dongs

Introduction to Jackson, the novel Published on: September 22, 2019 at 11:09 AM This is the introduction to my novel, Jackson about the goings on in a hate-filled town as told by Jody Luther, a fifteen year-old white girl. Listen to Jackson by Lucinda Williams at the close of this episode. Jackson on Amazon Jackson on Goodreads --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

This is the first chapter of Jackson, the novel when Jody, her dad, Clyde and her little sister, Willie visit the girls' mother, Grace at Rusk State Hospital on Christmas night, 1969. Listen to Joan Baez singing 'In the Pines' at the close of this episode. Jackson Amazon Jackson Goodreads --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

In the second chapter of Jackson, Jody, Clyde and Willie face the wrath of the Luther family on Christmas night. Listen to Hank Williams' "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry" at the end of this episode. Jackson on Amazon Jackson on Goodreads --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody, her mother, Grace and sister Willie leave Jackson on a Greyhound bus in the middle of the night one step ahead of the law. Listen to Tracy Chapman "House of the Rising Sun" at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody and her family reach Jackson and meet the Dupree family. Listen to Florence and the Machine's killer version of "Jackson" with Josh Homme at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody, Grace and Willie have a strange dinner with the Duprees and learn some horrifying things. Listen to Huddy Ledbetter's "Goodnight Irene" at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody and Willie tour Jackson and meet Daisy at the Jackson Zoo. Listen to Nina Simone's "I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free" at the close of the chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody attends the first day of school at the rich white high school, Murrah, crossing a policed barricade to go to class. Listen to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes "Wake Up Everybody" featuring Teddy Pendergrass at the close of the chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody reports for duty at her new after school job.....at the selective service. Shit's about to get real. Listen to "Green River" by Creedence Clearwater Revival at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody and Melvin dig deep at the library to discover what really happened to Emmett Till and Jody meets an icon. Listen to Frank Ocean's heartbreaking cover of "Moon River" at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Trouble brews all around the Luthers in Jackson. Listen to Vera Hall "Trouble so Hard" at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody, Grace and Willie entertain the Duprees at a dinner from hell. Listen to J.J. Cale's "Magnolia" at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

While working her after school part-time job at the draft board, Jody meets young Davey Starr. Listen to "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody has dinner at Melvin's house with Jeanine and Miss Sails. Listen to "Dambala" by Exuma at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody does some big time growing up by lying about her age to get into the X-rated film, Midnight Cowboy. Listen to "Everybody's Talkin'" by Nillson at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody, Grace and Willie celebrate an Easter from hell with the Dupree family. Listen to "Respect Yourself" by the Staple Singers at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

The very explicit account of what happened to Emmett Till as told through the voice of Jody Luther. A performance of "Ode to Billie Joe" by Chrissie Flatt follows. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody drives passed out Grace and her sister, Willie, home to Jackson from Choctaw Ridge through the broken down old south. Listen to Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey" at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Faced with the hardness and loneliness in Jackson, Jody remembers the past summer working at The Double Mountain ranch in her beloved Texas Hill Country. Listen to "Bellarosa" by Eliza Gilkyson at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody sneaks out to meet Davey for a late night date at a protest party. Listen to "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody has a terrifying run in with Big Jim Dupree. Listen to "Susie Q" by Creedence Clearwater Revival at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Events in Jackson are intensifying and Jody is faced with some life-changing decisions to make. Listen to "If You Were a Bluebird" by Butch Hancock at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

The shit hits the fan. Jackson State Massacre. Listen to the title track "The World is a Ghetto" by War at the end of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody, Grace and Willie attend the memorial for James Earl Green and Phillip Lafayette Gibbs. Listen to "Nearer my God to Thee" by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody watches the city of Jackson shut down after the Jackson State Massacre. Listen to "One More" by Jimmy Cliff at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Jody reaches the apex in a town gone wrong. Listen to "Midnight Special" by Creedence Clearwater Revival at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support

Epilogue: Jody looks back on those days in Jackson, Mississippi. Listen to "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone at the close of this chapter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cowbellsanddingdongs/support