East Flatbush Writer

It can’t just look good it needs to be good. “

Almost 20 years ago, I married my second husband. He is an amazing gift from God to me and my son. One of the characteristics I admire the most is his consistency. His public persona is exactly identical to his private one. I have never shut the door to the car after a evening out then to observe a transformation of him into an alternate personality. He is whom he’s always been, a stand-up, decent guy. That quality makes me feel safe in our relationship.

Elaine Effie Archer Fagan

My paternal grandmother, Elaine Effie Archer married my grandfather, Herbert David Fagan in the year 1938. She was 27 years old and in grave danger of remaining single for the rest of her life.  Although Elaine always had dreams of becoming a registered nurse, societal expectations and pressure forced her to bury those dreams deep within and assume the roles of wife and mother. Within seven years she had given birth to 5 children and assumed the new title of “head cook and bottle washer.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with this Caribbean idiomatic phrase, it simply means she was in charge of everything!

Herbert David Fagan

Herbert, school teacher by trade was unfazed by the rapid expansion of his family. He was involved in several social and political endeavors at the invitation of government officials, held many prominent positions and traveled the island of Jamaica frequently. He was good for the country, as he was recognized to be a “man of the people” someone who understood the hardships of economic life in a third world country and was rewarded with the appointment to National Director of Welfare. Not only was he a national hero, he was also a local one. There was not a smile wide enough on the faces of his children during his furloughs home. Herbert was equally happy to see them all and spread among them a brand of cheer unknown to them during his absences. Grandpa’s days at home was a magical time for all except, Elaine.

Herbert David Fagan was teacher, lay-preacher, social worker, father, husband and philanderer. For years, both he and Elaine endured a loveless marriage, two very unmatched individuals. There was never any verbal or physical abuse, no sordid public scandal but their private life was constantly being torpedoed by incoming missiles of whispers and rumors. It was the 1950’s and as a woman of that time, especially the wife of a very public figure, you just put up with it. To decide not to, meant a public spectacle of which there would only be one valid side. In this case, the public sentiment was torn between an unknown homemaker and a well-loved waymaker.

“Anchovy Too Dull Wife Went off to Canada,” the headline was literally screaming from the front page of the STAR newspaper and talked about in every corner of the small country. The year was 1958 and Elaine Effie Archer wife of H.D. Fagan made the audacious decision to leave her husband, her children, even her country in search of a life which was not controlled by longing and embarrassment. It was not enough that her children and the entire country adored the man she had married. He turned out not to be as good a man for her. She found courage and redeemed some of her dreams in her new found homeland of Canada. There, she not only became a certified nurses’ assistant, purchased several properties but also sponsored everyone of her five children so they could join here there and benefit from a plethora of higher educational opportunities.

Elaine’s choices and even some of my own, teaches the life lesson that its not enough to look good, it also needs to be good.