School

In some ways the lives of black folks here in Clarendon County, where seven out of every ten folks are black folks, are like the lives of caterpillars Carver and I see in the early part of spring. Life can be full of wonder for caterpillars. It can also be full of danger.

Carver taught me all about caterpillars. Late one spring afternoon we were sitting together under the oak tree in our back yard, a tree we called "Ol' Giant" because it was humongous with two limbs that looked like a giant's arms branching out of a knobby trunk that looked like a giant's knee. It was one of the many places that became a laboratory or a classroom that my little brother used for researching and for teaching.

On this particular afternoon there were caterpillars everywhere, inching their way over and around "Ol' Giant" and us.

- Look at all dese cat'pillers, Carver. Dey's no end to 'em.

- Well, it might look like dere's no end to 'em but dey hav' to be careful 'cause dey hav' pred'tors dat are out to hurt 'em an' ev'n kill 'em. See dat bird a settin' on "Ol Giants" arm? It's ready to swoop down on one o' dese little ones and use it fo' its ev'nin' meal. Hear dose wasps a buzzin' round de nest at de porch door? Dey'd like to use one o' dese little ones fo' food, too. When Daddy comes in from the field, his mud cakes boots might accidentally step on one dese little ones and crush de life outta it. So dey's many tings day could put a end to 'em.

But dey's some ways dese little ones can protect demselves. Dese ways are 'mazin', wonderful ways nature gave to dem to he'p dem. Look at dis little one. What is de first ting you notice 'bout it?

- Its got bright colors all around it.

- Well, dis little one is a Monarch. Dose bright colors tell dat bird and dose wasps dat it has been a eatin' pois'nous plants an' so is pois'nous to eat. Nature makes it tough on de inside so it can be safe on de outside.

How 'bout dis one? What you notice 'bout it?

- Hey, dat is a cat'pillar larva. At first I thought it was bird droppins'.

- Well, dese little ones will be Tiger Swallowtails. Nature he'ps dem camoflauge demselves so dey can stay safe.

What 'bout dis one?

- It has two big circles dat look like eyes.

- Well, dose are called eyespots an' make dis little one look bigger an' scarier dan it really is. Nature he'pd it look like a snake so dat bird an' dat wasp will leave it 'lone.