In the heart of Independence, Missouri, a black pastor's leadership sparks a devastating wave of fear and suspicion as rumors of witches grip the town. As new laws against witchcraft take hold, paranoia tears through the community, leading to dangerous accusations and tragic consequences, but also repentance and resistance. Amidst this chaos, a young black girl, guided by a divine calling, befriends a troubled Dominican gang member. Her selfless act of compassion comes with a profound sacrifice, highlighting the power of empathy in a world overshadowed by fear.
In Washington D.C., a black four-star general serves as national security advisor to a morally bankrupt president, whose Trumpian agenda exploits the witch hysteria to push a radical Christian nationalism. As the president's authoritarian grip tightens, the general faces a harrowing choice between patriotism and loyalty. His decision culminates in a shocking climax, revealing the high stakes of standing up against tyranny.
"DRY RAIN" weaves together threads of faith, sacrifice, and political intrigue in a gripping tale where personal bravery and moral integrity confront the darkest facets of power and prejudice.
In the heart of Independence, Missouri, a black pastor's leadership sparks a devastating wave of fear and suspicion as rumors of witches grip the town. As new laws against witchcraft take hold, paranoia tears through the community, leading to dangerous accusations and tragic consequences, but also repentance and resistance. Amidst this chaos, a young black girl, guided by a divine calling, befriends a troubled Dominican gang member. Her selfless act of compassion comes with a profound sacrifice, highlighting the power of empathy in a world overshadowed by fear.
In Washington D.C., a black four-star general serves as national security advisor to a morally bankrupt president, whose Trumpian agenda exploits the witch hysteria to push a radical Christian nationalism. As the president's authoritarian grip tightens, the general faces a harrowing choice between patriotism and loyalty. His decision culminates in a shocking climax, revealing the high stakes of standing up against tyranny.
"DRY RAIN" weaves together threads of faith, sacrifice, and political intrigue in a gripping tale where personal bravery and moral integrity confront the darkest facets of power and prejudice.
Black clouds settled over the stark white columns, which stood as sentinels in front of the entrance. Arched windows with stained glass refracted the sunlight into multi-colored glimmers that bounced off the back of the black man pacing along the length of the pulpit. He paused. Pastor Breedlove was a burly box of a man who had pastored Main Street Community Church for some seventeen years, assuming the position after his predecessor who died of sickness. The broad shoulders hunched over handwritten notes while he adjusted spectacles to gain a clearer glimpse of his notes. His expression mimicked the images of the angry God who appeared in the biblical commentaries he had devoured during seminary. He earned his BA from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. After saving money working on his grandfather's farm, he was admitted to and graduated from Eden Theological Seminary, located outside of St. Louis. Enjoying some unexpected good fortune, he was called to pastor Main Street Community Church, a predominantly white congregation with a smattering of black folk. Pastor Breedlove preached a legalistic gospel with concrete repercussions for disregarding biblical mandates.
His great-grandparents were former slaves who escaped from Mississippi to Kansas via the underground railroad. They settled in Missouri after the state abolished slavery. Pastor Breedlove's father was a sharecropper who eventually purchased his own farm where he raised bird-dogs and also farmed the land. He cultivated corn while also working odd jobs that inevitably ended when a white man called him nigger. He would curse the foreman, cold-cock him, or both. His grandmother always knew when the exchange had taken place. Frederick Earl would amble through the front lawn at noon, grab his shotgun, and mumble "I'm goin' hunting." Pastor Breedlove memorized his sermons, including all scriptural references. Committing God's words to memory was a Christian's duty along with loving one's neighbor. For over forty years, he had plotted the perfect sermons constructed from scripture and historical background, defined Greek and Hebrew words, hermeneutically sound analysis, and life application. Saturday afternoon was the time to perfect delivery, adapting his tone and modulation to adequately provoke the proper emotional responses from the congregation. Clearing his throat, he began the sixth run-through.
"This morning, my beloved, I will talk to you about the coming wrath of God. Not a comfortable topic, I know, but a necessary one I assure you. For while God is a loving God, he is also a just God. In Ezekiel 25 and verse 17, the prophet declares that God will execute great vengeance upon the sinner. Amen."
Pastor Breedlove, whose white hair matched the color of the church's pillars, took a breath as he continued to pace. His rhythm was off, but he smiled anyway because his favorite part had arrived. For most preachers, it would be the end with its crescendo and flourishes but for Pastor Breedlove, it was showing off his understanding of the sacred languages.
"Naqam in the Aramaic Hebrew, the language of God's chosen people, means avengement, whether of the act or the passion. It also means revenge. You heard it right, oh yes, you did! God is passionate about justice, passionate about visiting the iniquity of the fathers unto the second and even third generations. Yes, sir, God is passionate about it. Passion implies heat or the motivation of a lover toward his beloved. The word invokes emotion and purpose, dynamic energy in bringing something to fruition. That's right, God is a passionate God."
Pastor Breedlove stopped and looked over the sanctuary, envisioning the crowd of white and black faces looking to him for guidance. The pews, red and newly cushioned, mimicked the colors shining through the windows. He had begun to sweat, and his voice modulated louder and deeper. The climax was upon him and like any jazz singer worth his salt, he adjusted his diaphragm to support the final chorus.
"For God demands justice and will answer the call of the righteous. God is passionate about avenging the wrongs in this world. Sin and sinful people are in his sights and on his radar. Defying God will bring upon you the whirlwind of his vengeance, liars and fornicators, the rich who abuse and rob the wages of the poor, adulterers, drunkards, and child-molesters, all are in the same category and will receive the same justice. God will strike you down with the arrows of his vengeance when you least expect it."
He grabbed both sides of the podium and looked over his spectacles for effect. He saw the eyes of every member and visitor as he brought home this important point. His eyes flashed anger on command. The moment will call for it, he thought.
"The holy writ declares that no one knows the day or the hour of his coming but know this you sinners, God is coming and coming for you. What can I do to avoid his vengeance, you ask? Do I need to state the obvious? Repent, oh sinner. Repent and let the forgiveness of God wash over you and cleanse your wicked hearts. Oh, wretched ones, don't play politics with God. Make sure your sorry is real. Make sure your heart is burdened with the understanding of your iniquity. Then, and only then, will God snuff out the flames of his coming wrath. God stands ready. Are you ready? Is this the day of salvation or the day of damnation? You decide, oh sinner. You decide."
He stopped his pacing at the end of the pulpit with stairs emptying into the hallway, leading to the pastoral study and offices. He pulled a white, starched handkerchief from his vest pocket and wiped his brow. He smiled for the first time. He stepped down into a hallway, lined with the framed pictures of his predecessors. Some called it the Hall of Heroes. His eyes looked at the first stern-faced white man, followed by more until the passing faces turned brown or black. He stopped at the picture of Pastor Winston Caleb. He installed Pastor Breedlove as the new Senior Pastor in his stead and prayed over him. Afterward, Pastor Caleb gave him a red envelope and whispered cryptic words into his ear. At that moment, Pastor Breedlove couldn't remember what he had said. Hearing a sound, he looked over his shoulder to see the assistant pastor coming from the sanctuary. Their eyes met.
"Good day," Silas said.
"Good morning, sir."
Pastor Breedlove turned on his heels and entered the study, pulling the door shut. He locked it.
When a group of fishermen comes across naked women dancing around a fire in the woods, a witch hunt ensues. Before long, irrational fear and radicalized religion lead to a law being passed that leads to the arrest of adults and children on suspicion of witchcraft. From the use of a Ouija board to reading paranormal fiction, the number of “crimes” that can lead to incarceration is endless. Meanwhile, an opportunistic authoritarian president uses this panic in the Midwest to strengthen his radical Christian nationalist agenda. Selflessness still thrives in a Black teenage girl, Mica, who will employ her faith in God for good, insisting on a procedure that will save her misunderstood friend, a Dominican gang member named Nico. Pastor Breedlove, a Black pastor, will fight against the radicalization and abuse of his faith, and the Black National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Paul Williams, will make a harrowing decision in defense of the Constitution he fought to uphold.
A blend of literary fiction and dystopian fiction, Dry Rain warns of a future that may not be out of the realm of possibility for the United States. Each of the interconnected stories in Dry Rain may appear extreme. However, when we reflect on how Hitler rose to power and led a genocide of Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, and the physically and mentally disabled, in the current polarized political climate of America, it is not an impossibility. This poignant novel by Kevin C. McClanahan, a Black judge and pastor, is at once frightening and powerful in its message. Brilliantly plotted, I was captivated from start to finish.
Dry Rain highlights the impact of prejudice, racism, intolerance, and despotism. It contains violence and explicit language–including racial slurs–but for a mature young reader reading with a trusted educator or parent, this book would open up an incredible opportunity for discussion and reflection. Dry Rain is a hidden gem and would be worthy of assigned reading in high school and university or as a book club selection.