TrueSouth episode 6 review: Beaumont, TX
The epicenter of the original American oil boom and the epicenter of contradiction.
By: Bossman Slim
Good and bad. Light and dark. Hope and despair. Boom and bust. In the years I’ve been on this earth, I’ve learned a few truths about life, human nature, and nature itself. One of those truths is that life is defined by contradictions. Our world is contradictory by nature. People can be tender, yet strong. They can be loving, yet cold. Nature at its core is beautiful, but mother nature can bring destruction and suffering.
One place that exemplifies these contradictions is Beaumont, Texas. This is the birthplace of the American oil boom, where Spindletop struck “black gold” in 1901. Gulf, Texaco, and Mobile were all born out of the original black gold rush. When most people think of Texas oil they think of West Texas and Friday Night Lights. But the start of Texas oil wasn’t in the barren plains of West Texas - it was in far East Texas. It’s not Louisiana, but it darn sure could be. This is where we find ourselves with John T. Edge this week, exploring the conflict between Beaumont’s past and future, its beauty and destruction, its hope and despair.
The music of East Texas native Paul Cauthen is prominently featured in episode 6.
But before we get to the heavy-on-your-heart stuff, John T. makes sure to fill us up with some heavy on the stomach stuff. Stopping for a bite with Texas Monthly BBQ Editor (and a personal role model of this Texan) Daniel Vaughn, we go to one of the unique barbecue places in Beaumont, Patillo’s BBQ. This is black BBQ, as John T. let us know. Patillo’s is the oldest black-owned BBQ joint in Texas as well as the oldest family-owned BBQ joint in the state. This is beef links BBQ - often called “greaseballs” - not the smoked brisket so famous in Central Texas. It’s the bastard child of Louisiana boudin and hot links. When you watch Vaughn squeeze out the meat from the casing, it makes you think of something you’d rather not eat. But I’ll tell you what - give me four links. I’ve never tasted that type of BBQ, but despite the look, I would eat until I popped. And once the audience is introduced to Mr. Robert Patillo, the joints owner, the man couldn’t seem nicer. We’ll be visiting you, Mr. Patillo, that’s for sure.
After mastering the art of eating a greaseball, it was time to meet American art royalty. John Alexander is known for his paintings, many with a nod to nature, but also with that distinct conflict. That comes from Beaumont, where he was raised before he headed off to the big lights of New York City. Alexander discusses his upbringing and how his father raised him in the area. His father is a fascinating character, having been born in the 1800s and taking up arms for the U.S. in the Spanish-American War. His greatest contribution to America, however, may have been the love of nature he instilled in his son. The man himself was a contradiction; he made his living off of the oil industry which destroyed much of the natural swamps but revered the beauty of the natural world, which his son internalized. Edge and Alexander head into the swamps, just ten minutes from large oil plants. The scene is tranquil, yet dangerous. Another contradiction. It’s beautiful, yet destroyed by man.
But even in the destruction of a beautiful habitat, there is beauty. Like when the human spirit is never as bright as in the aftermath of a natural disaster, neighbor helping neighbor to move forward. People have jobs because of the oil industry in Beaumont. Generations have fed their families and made a wage they would otherwise not be able to make by working at the petrochemical facilities, as we learn from the local Appomattox Club.
George Gerard, owner of Gerard’s BBQ, another black-owned shop in Beaumont, is another walking contradiction. He’s a Texan, but his mother was from Louisiana and the food he serves straddles the fence of Texan and Louisianan. He took the restaurant over from his father and has kept it going through all the booms and busts of the oil industry. The next time we’re in Beaumont, we’re saving room because we’ll be hitting Gerard’s and Patillo’s, likely on the same day.
Maybe Beaumont isn’t a place of contradiction at all. Maybe it’s yin and yang.
You can watch the trailer for the Beaumont episode below, and watch the full episode now on ESPN+ or set your DVR for the next airing on SEC Network. No announcement on a new episode for next week, so we’ll keep going in rewind. Next Monday we’ll review season two episode 5, heading to The Big Easy: New Orleans, Louisiana. Can’t wait for that one.