The following is an excerpt from Zack’s upcoming book, We Grew Up Together-…
… I STILL LONGED FOR THE COUNTRY SMALL TOWN SITTING OF MY CHILDHOOD; WHERE ROAMING THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINSIDE BAREFOOTED WAS A SUMMER RITUAL. DURING THAT TIME OF SEGREGATION (1950 – 60’s) AND LACK OF PROGRAMS FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS DAY CAMPS. WE MADE OUR OWN. OUR OWN BECAME A TRADITION OF FUN, EXPLORATION AND EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS ALSO SUPPORTED AND PLANNED OUT BY OUR MOTHERS, FATHERS AND FAMILIES. WE WOULD ALL PLAN, ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN OF US BUT SOME DAYS TEN TO TWELVE, TO MEET AT EACH OTHERS HOUSE. ONE PARENT WOULD FIX LUNCHES FOR THE WHOLE GROUP AND LEMONADE OR TEA IN OLD PINT OR QUART JARS. WE NEVER TOOK WATER, BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY NATURAL SPRINGS ALONG THE WAY AND IT WAS OKAY TO DRINK THE COOL SPARKLING LIKE WATER FROM THE EARTH). NOW SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING ON IN THESE MOUNTAINOUS HILLS THAT SEEMED A WELL KEPT SECRET….