Terry Kincaid Sparknotes

The epic tale of the moonshine wars and racial tension that erupted in Kincaid, Georgia, as told through the eyes of a grandson.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS:

Told through the eyes and narrated by Terry Lee Kincaid III, the book follows the journey of several influential people in his life, especially his great granddaddy, BILLY RAY KINCAID, his granddaddy, BIG T (Terry Lee Benning KINCAID), and his father, TERRY LEE JR.

Billy Ray, a pioneer of the second coming of the Ku Klux Klan, is a slave hunter, who lives off the land. He becomes entangled with BULL MOSGROVE, a leader of the KKK. He falls in love with MYRTLE BENNING, but later they break up. After their break up, Billy Ray learned he was a father to a son, Terry Lee Benning Kincaid (Big T).

As an adult, in the 1900’s, Big T becomes a moonshiner owns the land that Kincaid was made on.

Big T teams up with his friend, JIM SPICER, aka BIG JIM, a Black man. PREACHER BO brought them together.
The two families live together as equals for years, despite the rise of the Klansmen and racial tension. They name their business, BIG BOY MOONSHINE.

The relationship between Big T and Big Jim is tight. But when Preacher Bo is murdered, tension erupts in their friendship. Big T always wanted to meet his biological father, Billy Ray. One day this happens, but Billy Ray is told to kill his own son for the Klan, who wants Big T’s business. Billy Ray, unable to kill his son, walks away. Later he hangs himself.

Big T and Big Jim are eventually both arrested and sent to work on the prison Chain Gang for 14 years. Each man leaves behind a son to be raised. Big Jim’s son, SONNY SPICER, and Big T’s son, Terry Lee Jr. were left to be raised by Big Jim’s wife, Ms.

ALBERTA.

The community doesn’t approve of a White Boy being raised by a Black woman. The Klan tries to separate them, but Ms. Alberta fights back.

Terry Lee Jr. and Sonny become like real brothers. They get into trouble together, including stealing. They find their fathers’ profession and start it up again. It’s the beginning of something very dangerous for them.

They meet GARRETT CARTER, who has a profound effect on their lives. He is a modern day slave, who plays the spy game on his own people. He’s caught in the middle, not being accepted by the White man or by the Black community. Sonny and Terry Lee Jr. understand Garrett better than anyone. Mosgrove orders Garrett Carter’s murder. While the first attempt fails, later Musgrove and his Klan murder Garrett.

Terry Lee Jr. finds love with a Purdie Girl and eventually she gives birth to Little T, but then she dies. Ms. Alberta helps raise Little T.

Terry Lee Jr., wanting revenge, tries to get closer to the Klan, while Sonny joins the service and becomes one of the first Black Soldiers to join the Marines.

While in Haiti, Sonny meets and falls in love with ISABELLE SINCLAIR. She ran away from home and went to live with the rebels for two years.
She participated in some Caco rebellions against the Haitian government. Sonny abandons his service to be with Isabelle.

Eventually, they return home where he introduces Isabelle to his family. Big T, now released from the chain gang, doesn’t approve of Sonny’s relationship with Isabelle. Isabelle considers Big T to be a person who is evil and wrong.

The families live together, but fear the Klan. Big T sells moonshine to the Klan to keep them away. Isabella decides she needs to burn down Big T’s barn and business. She leaves Sonny to go live in the woods and she sets the barn on fire. Ms. Alberta finds Isabella in the woods, but has a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital.

Sonny and Terry Lee Jr. get caught up with the Market Street Gang. After being robbed by them, the boys decide to retaliate, but in their getaway, Terry Lee Jr. decides to kick Sonny out of the car, as the others continue to chase Terry Lee Jr. Little T never saw his father again.

The Gang and the law purses Sonny.

He makes it back to a juke joint, where he and Terry Lee Jr. hid some money, but when surrounded, Sonny surrenders.

Isabella decides to burn the barn down again, but when she sees Little T walking towards the barn, she grabs him. The barn explodes.

At the house, Isabella attends to wounded Little T. Big Jim and Big T find her in the home.

Mosgrove has been driven out as the Klan leader. GEORGE SHARKEY, now the new leader of Klan, storms into the house, holding them captive. From up stairs Little T watches in horror as George tortures Big Jim and Isabella. Finally, Little T has seen enough. He grabs a rifle and confronts George. Little T knows there’s a time to heal and a time to kill. He fires a warning shot. George and his men leave.

The family begins the healing process. Isabella and Sonny are eventually reunited.

Both Big Jim and Big T lived for a long time before they were both killed in front of Little T.
Little T is proud to have Big T as his granddaddy, and lucky to witness Big Jim as a person. All the people in Kincaid are considered family, Black or White, and they made Little T what he is

today.