The Meat Eaters is set in the years 1968 and 1969 during a period of civil turmoil in the United States. The Vietnam War was in progress and the Cold War continued. A social revolution over civil rights developed, and widespread public disillusionment was surfacing in the form of violence. The main character is a divorced white assistant district attorney who becomes involved with a black woman working in his office building. As their relationship grows his work responsibilities become more demanding, And as racial and social unrest become more violent his personal life in conflict with his professional life. The question then becomes What next?'
Another scenario in the story is the desperate actions of the Black Panthers as they seek to further their cause. Are they right or are they wrong?
About the Author: Jack Eitelgeorge is a native Californian, born in Vallejo, California in the San Franciso/Oakland Bay Area. He has an Associate of Arts degree in Engineering, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business/Personnel Management, and a Master of Arts degree in English/Creative Writing.
He worked for 32 years for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in engineering, customer services, and personnel, retiring from the position of Division Customer Services Manager in San Rafael, California. One of his greatest passions has always been creative writing. His early retirement gave him the opportunity to pursue that endeavor.
Having lived for years in the Bay Area he saw firsthand the diversity of the local populations around him. The post-WWII era brought many people of all races and backgrounds to the area seeking employment in the shipyards, military installations and private industries where many blue-collar jobs were available. Workers and their families came from other states and countries, and with them came diverse customs and beliefs. While there were many episodes of success and happiness, there were also incidents of discrimination and conflict--some continuing on for years.
Growing up in this environment provided Jack with insights into the various differences among peoples. The assimilation of the various ethnic groups included both positive and negative encounters. Witnessing them over the years was educational and gave Jack the desire to record and report them. The hope is to inspire positive approaches for all people to move forward in cooperative ways. Jack's ten years working in Personnel gave him valuable training in supporting and promoting racial equality. There are untold benefits with the cooperation among diverse cultures in making our society stronger in peaceful ways.
Even though there are some negative actions in The Meat Eaters, there are glimmers of hope. The path to a better society is usually one of small steps that help lead us to our goal. This book hopes in some small way to encourage that theme. If this author can help forge just a few of those steps, the path may eventually lead us to a better world. That is all he wants.