You've heard of the first Black to sit in the front of the bus,
first Black Boxer, first Black Baseball Player, and first Black
Astronaut. What about one of the first Blacks to be sent to the
Army's 82nd Airborne, to work as an IBM operator in New York City,
or to open an African American Art gallery in Manhattan. It's all
the same person: Thomas Joseph DuVall. His autobiography discusses
these poignant points of his life along with the challenges of
segregation, a Catholic upbringing, family sacrifice, and the
Harlem art scene. These are just a few of the themes in his
coming-of-age autobiography entitled "Venial Sins."
In Catholic doctrine, venial sins are little white lies and
minor infringements or violations of the truth. The author shows
you how so-called venial, not mortal, sins can devastate the
delicate sensibilities of innocent children. These children later
become, more often than not, our troubled adults who must now
decide whether their sins are mortal or venial.
In this autobiography, venial sins permeate the book, starting
from his being born and raised in Washington, D.C., from 1934 to
1953; enlisting in the Armed Forces at age 16 and experiencing
eye-opening racial experiences in both the military and his own
hometown; becoming an Artist portraying his heritage in his Art;
becoming a Drummer determined to play his conga drums and
Afrocentric music in the 1950s, when it was unpopular to do so; and
interweaving the job and other personal experiences of this
ordinary man with an extraordinary life. Throughout all of these
experiences, the author is able to reflect on them and laugh at all
the ridiculous situations in which people can find themselves-in a
moment's notice This passionate storyteller's famous line is: "I
know you're not going to believe this..." Not just a life story,
"Venial Sins" is a true story of American history.
Parts I and II of the autobiography will have readers laughing
and crying about the author's childhood and military experiences.
Part III describes his moving to New York City and opening the very
first African American Art gallery there with the help of another
Korean War veteran, Rudy Irvin. The Art gallery, called the Weusi
Artist Collective, is still celebrated and recognized today for its
impact on African Art in America. The book also describes how he
ends up leaving New York City and why. The book ends with the
author's uplifting, joyous mural, "Slammin'," which exemplifies the
spirit of his life.
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