Puff Ditch: In Memory of Charles Ross Strickland, the Man

In his attempt to draw back memories of his hometown and a beloved bandleader, Ricky Dickerson brings to life an era in the 60’s when the bond between African American students and teachers stride together against racial segregation. At the heart of this true story is Charles Strickland, a bandleader and school teacher, who sacrificed himself way beyond the mere teacher/student relationship. While his personal life seems driven by some internal force, he found himself tormented by a love that seems unobtainable. Puff Ditch, a unique and unusual title given to a story that’s unusually funny, informative, serious, compassionate, and romantic. Just a rollercoaster portrait of real life, leaps from the mind of a 5th grade African American kid growing up in Bastrop, Louisiana. With all the town’s colorful characters, you definitely want to find out how this story got its name; Puff Ditch.