The most striking feature on June Bug’s face are the huge, brown, soulful eyes gazing out at you. It’s almost as though his eyes are of another entity with an expressiveness apart from the functioning of his body. His hands are calm gently resting on his lap. His other limbs draped gracefully on the chair in which he is seated are not moving a bit. But his eyes sweep the room gracefully, slowly almost languidly with a precision that belies a casually resting body. Upon closer examination his eyes are actually noting every door and opening in the room, the location of every person in the room, and quite probably the nearest means of an emergency escape.
John Harris, Jr., known as June Bug, has lived a life full of traumatic events occurring repeatedly at regular intervals. He was born on 12/20/1959, a Christmas baby, a gift from God. Somewhere between five and six years old he and his youngest brother were removed from their family of birth, Carrie and John Harris, Sr. The decision had been made by social workers in the Welfare Department who oversaw the Harris family benefits. It was at this level that it was determined that his mother and father, who had five children, had too many children, more than the mother could handle according to the social worker. And so to eliminate the too many children June Bug and his younger brother, Jeffrey, were placed in foster homes.
Out of this decision by Welfare Department social workers, June Bug was placed in the home of Mattie and Charles Wright. They had a daughter of their own who was older than June Bug. Mrs. Wright was a homemaker. Mr. Wright worked for the City of Wilmington, capacity unknown. What becomes very clear as time passes is that a major incentive to become a foster care parent is the income it provides the accepting family. The proof and impact of this financial factor literally determined the path June Bug’s life would follow for his foreseeable future absent a serious intervention.
When I asked what was his home life like as a foster child June Bug offers vague responses. It was okay, a little stressful. He does not mention friends or special holidays, favorite foods or any reference to feeling protected or loved. He did mention that he graduated from Wilmington High School in 1977. Notably June Bug took no pride in his graduation. Nor did he have any idea that high school graduation was a major accomplishment in 1977.
Given proper guidance and support that achievement alone should have helped him secure entry level employment at a decent wage. These factors could have translated into stability and predictability. He had enrolled in mathematics, science, English and shop classes. Of note is the fact that the school kept him enrolled for two years and during his senior year employed him through Junior Achievement Program until he graduated. Outside employment during school hours are positions available only for the most dependable students. Therefore June Bug’s employment opportunity in the workforce was heightened. Nobody put the picture together though. Wilmington High School seemed to be to be the only institution with some awareness of his fragility and at risk status. No adult in authority intervened to protect him.
On his eighteenth birthday the Wrights informed June Bug he had to leave their home. There was no counseling for emotional support, financial support for a stable economic transition, and no housing for shelter. There was no explanation, just the statement “Leave now.” He was turned out into the street. He wandered the streets and eventually after about two years he found work at the Port of Wilmington and sometimes at the City of Wilmington. But this work, however, was sporadic and of short duration.
I asked June Bug how he felt living like this.”Depressed. Anxious. For awhile suicidal. But I talked myself out of that. I focused on hope. Hope.”
June Bug has lost all of his family members except his younger brother who was hit and nearly killed by a car last year.
The cycle of homelessness has continued for June Bug. He is now 60 years old . He lives at the Central YMCA, downtown Wilmington in a special program. But the applicant agency has lost their grant. He expects to be homeless again in April, 2020.
When will the cycle be broken?
