I asked Ken Wooten, Former Dean of Admissions and Registrar at The University of Mississippi and Oxford businessman, to tell me about his latest book, On Being Afraid of the Dark.
Tell me about the book’s title, Ken. Most men wouldn’t admit to being afraid of the dark.
“Oh, it has nothing to do with ghosts or goblins hiding under the bed when the lights go out. This darkness that I write of symbolizes negative thoughts of man and has many shades. Not just skin color, but other characteristics that distinguish a person:
class, wealth, beliefs, intelligence, physical appearance, language, power, personality or any trait that might be a cause for divisiveness.”
Is this a memoir or a work of fiction?
“In a sense, it is autobiographical, in that I used actual life experiences to illustrate the racial divide. But then I developed fictional plots to broaden the story. This is my second novel. The first, Blackberries, published in 2013 was pretty much a travelogue of Mexican sites with the good guys seeking to recover a stolen emerald that was also sought by the bad guys, drug smugglers. Naturally, murder and mayhem enhanced the plot. On Being Afraid of the Dark is a much more serious theme and part fictional.
You wrestle with some tough social issues. Tell me how that came to be.
“Well, it started as a story of my own experiences with race relations, but soon that theme was broadened to include the story of man and man’s proclivity to dominate others, especially those among us who are different. I ended up examining the pecking order that seems to fuel a feeling of superiority. It became a search for answers to prejudicial thought and action.”
So where does fear belong in this analysis?
“The fear is the fear of the unknown, that which is different from us or that challenges our belief system.”
Lots of philosophy here! How do you explain it in a novel? Who is telling this story?
“While walking in his Mississippi woods one day, James Warner, an 82-year-old white man, sees his granddaughter having a sexual encounter with a young black man. Assuming it was rape, he shoots her lover. He is charged with a hate crime, for murder. This begins his search to understand his prejudices and motivation for taking the life of another. He examines historical acts of discrimination from his personal experiences and those from his home state. ”
Would you elaborate on some personal experiences that led to this undertaking?
“At a very early age, I witnessed the beating and jailing of a black man and his son. Segregation of schools and churches were a part of my experience. I am the only surviving member of the five University employees that spent the night in the Lyceum Building as it was attacked by a mob during the admission of the first Ole Miss black student. Many additional encounters and reactions are presented in the book.”
What motivated you to take on such tough issues?
“I guess it has something to do with the divisiveness in America today, and in other parts of the world. It is my personal plea to reconcile for survival. We are all one with nature and so dependent upon one another.”
While you deal with these tough issues, a softness creeps into Warner’s story when he talks to his deceased wife, Maggie. The poetry, for example. Have you written other poetry?
“I’ve always enjoyed writing and often jot down thoughts that might be considered poetic. The character, Jim Warner, has a strong sense of beauty, is compassionate about fairness and equality. Such a character just has to be a romantic.
And the beautiful lyrics of Tricia Walker’s song, “What a Wonderful Day.” Why were those lyrics important to include?
“Those words were written by Tricia for a friend who had terminal cancer. To me, they remind us that each day we live and each breath we take is special, to be appreciated. We are to live life to the fullest for so long as we may live.”
You touch on many sensitive topics as the story winds down. Did Warner ever answer the tough questions? Has he come to grips with his fears? The trial? I know you can’t answer this last question and spoil it for others, but after reading the book I hope other readers will reflect on their personal fears of the unknown. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to examine these troubling but important issues.
About The Author
Ken has a long career in higher education, was a founder and CEO of a manufacturing company, and has a Juris Doctor in Law. He was a leader in education policy on the state,
regional, and national levels. He served as trustee of the national College Entrance Examination Board, was one of the founders and first president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. He consulted for colleges, the National Merit Scholarship Corp., and the U.S. Department of Justice. Ken also testified before congressional committees. Publications include Tests: The Foundation for Equality, Josey Bass; Americans
With Disability Act Compliance Manual; and a novel, Blackberries, published in 2013. Community activities are president, Oxford Chamber of Commerce; president, Rotary; president, Yoknapawtapha Arts Council; and Theatre Oxford. Also museum board, library board, and more.Ken lives near Oxford, Mississippi, on a 15-acre lake in a 260-acre forest with his wife, Margaret Wylde; a Great Pyrenees, Lilly; and a fat cat called Cheddar.
Interview by Brenda West. On being Afraid of the Dark is available at Square Books, 160 Courthouse Sq., Oxford, MS 38655.
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