Southern Book Addresses Religion, Women's Issues

 

"Why Beulah Shot Her Pistol inside the Baptist Church"

By Dr. Clayton Sullivan
Published by NewSouth Books
October 2004
$24.95

"Why Beulah Shot Her Pistol Inside the Baptist Church" is not for the faint-hearted, easily offended or people who have difficulty seeing humor in serious situations. The rest of us need to read it.

You may see yourself, your neighbor or even some of your kin in these characters. Not since Clyde Edgerton spoke through the voice of Raney has there been a book that more poignantly addressed southern religion and women's issues.

Author Clayton Sullivan has taught religion and philosophy at the University of Southern Mississippi for three decades and is known as one who does not shy away from controversy.

In an interview with Sullivan, he said, "Former students told most of the scenarios in this book. In fact, the book is dedicated to my students."

Sullivan pastored a Baptist church for five years during the Civil Rights conflict in Mississippi. He found the experience to be both psychologically and emotionally draining and jumped at the opportunity to move into the academic world.

He has post-doctoral training at both Princeton and Harvard universities. However, it is his classroom experience that gave him the heart and "burden" for all the Beulah's out there that, "marry at ridiculously young ages and have one baby after another, never learning to think for themselves."

Set in Jones County in a fictional community called New Jerusalem, "Why Beulah Shot Her Pistol Inside the Baptist Church" is about a young woman who was reared under religious and social oppression. The story is told in a narrative voice from Beulah's point of view.

Beulah's father thought she had no business going places other than church. He even objected to a trip to the International House of Pancakes. Beulah was married off at age 16 to a man 20 years her senior. Her new husband and her father had more than a few things in common. After six years of hard labor in this marriage, Beulah begins to think for herself. That's when the real trouble begins.

Beulah describes her husband as "a man who likes to sit in the saddle and call the shots." The pastor of their church is also a colorful character. Beulah says, "When Brother Ledbetter gets wound up he sounds like an auctioneer at a cattle sale."

Word had it, he held back a little bit of the money from the women's peanut brittle sales to pay for his shiny Pontiac. Brother Ledbetter is a former car salesman who worked at the Red Auto Barn on Hardy Street in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Beulah's Aunt Vera is a role model for having made it on her own. She works at the Confederate Truck Stop on U.S. 49 just north of Hattiesburg and was unanimously voted out of the church for daring to divorce her abusive husband and striking out on her own.

Empowered by a new haircut and a Smith and Wesson, let's just say Beulah gets the last word.

One of the most delightful things about this book is Beulah's familiar way of talking. Beulah's voice is one that will get in your head and stay there. Southern humor, tragedy, satire, women's issues and the rhythm of female conversations is what fastens this book together.

If you are familiar with South Mississippi, you will appreciate the descriptions of familiar places such as Pascagoula, Biloxi, Laurel and Mobile. Consider buying an extra copy for a fast, thought-provoking read.

Correspondent Reba J. McMellon can be reached at rebaj@mindspring.com or P.O. Box 161, Hurley, MS 39555.

©2005 The Mississippi Press.