Madestella C. Holcomb

Therefore Choose Life Madestella C. Holcomb

Therefore Choose Life is the story of the beginning, the struggles, and the outcome of the love between Sage Copple, a Negro, and Darius Deavers, who is white. The story begins in the segregated times of 1926 when Sage and Darius are five years old. It continues to the still segregated times of 1946. When oil is discovered on the Copple farm, Michael Deavers, representing the New Western Oil Company, takes Darius with him to the Copple farm because he wants him to have an introduction to black people. Darius's life has only included white people. Darius and Sage are immediately attracted to one another. The sale of the Copple farm makes Mr. Copple a very rich man. But being uneducated, he loses all his money and dies a hopeless alcoholic. Sage's mother then takes a job as cook in the Deavers household and Sage and Darius renew their attraction to each other. When Sage's mother sees the unhappiness created by Sage and Darius wanting to attend school together, she leaves her job. Ironically as adults Sage and Darius come in contact and again their love is renewed. The story details their problems with the miscegenation laws; the hate created in both their families and their desire to be married.