Drug Kingpin Frank Lucas Told Me Not to Forgive Anyone

So I never forgave him. Asked to say some kind words at his funeral, I respectfully declined. Here is the eulogy I should have delivered.

Aliya S. King
LEVEL

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Frank Lucas. Photo: David Howells/Corbis/Getty Images

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I’m doing this for Ray Lucas. Not for anyone in this room. And especially not for the man in this coffin.

I have to be honest. I don’t want to be up here. At funerals, the eulogy should be given by someone who cares about the person. It should be given by someone who can talk about what a good person the deceased was — or tried to be. The eulogist should be fair and balanced. They find the good in the recently departed and allow us to celebrate their spirit.

I can’t do any of that.

Because Frank Lucas was a jerk. He was rude and hurtful toward many of his loved ones. And although he had moments of care and concern, he was mostly a brute who liked to shout at people. If he was waiting for paperwork from his attorney, the man got cursed out before he could hand it over. If his wife was a few minutes late making breakfast, he threatened to divorce her. If one of his children came over and didn’t have a quick answer to…

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Aliya S. King
LEVEL
Writer for

Aliya S. King is an author, freelance writer and editor.