Sins of our Family - The Jean-François Bokassa Story

Sins of our Family - The Jean-François Bokassa Story - Printable Version

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Sins of our Family - The Jean-François Bokassa Story - LordBirdman - 07-18-2023

2x draft media

Sins of our Family - The Jean-François Bokassa Story

Sports Illustrated for Kids Exclusive Story

Jean-François Bokassa doesn’t shy away from his family heritage when questioned about it, but he also never brings it up without prompting. The elephant in the room for the promising young defenseman born in the Central African Republic (“CAR”) is that his grandfather is Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the former military dictator of the CAR. Jean-Bédel Bokassa reigned as President, and eventually Emperor, of the CAR after leading a military coup in 1966 until his overthrow in 1979. The senior Bokassa is best known for his lavish coronation and his brutal repression of student protestors. His grandson has high hopes to establish a different type of legacy, one where the word massacre is used figuratively.

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa is said to have modeled his coronation after Napoleon

Jean-Bédel Bokassa was ousted from power after he ordered mass arrests and beatings of students protesting his declaration that all students are required to wear uniforms made by a company owned by one of his many wives (true story). Little did he know at the time that his son had just found out his wife was pregnant with a boy. That boy would have to spend his early years smuggled around Africa to hide him from his dangerous grandfather before being taken to Europe. While still on the move between various countries in Europe growing up, Jean-François took to hockey.

Jean-François enjoyed the sense of community, team comradery, and fierce competition that the sport brought into his life. After having a totally abnormal early childhood, hockey made him feel normal. The only thing that mattered on the ice was how well you could play. JFB, as his teammates sometimes called him, was a big kid that developed a cerebral sense for the defensive side of the game. Unfortunately for JFB, the difficulties in his life were far from over.

Jean-François and his parents had been on the move around various European countries when his parents were finally arrested and sent back to the CAR to face their crimes of corruption. Little did he know, but his parents had made off with millions of dollars in misappropriated tax dollars to fund their escape. Jean-François was innocent in all of this as a child but suffered for the crimes of his parents. He was on an overseas hockey trip when his parents were arrested. Jean-François quickly realized he would have to make his own way at the young age of 14.

Once on his own, Jean-François turned to the underworld to support his life and hockey dreams. He didn’t want to have to become a criminal, but for an undocumented kid with a target on his back he didn’t have many options for legitimate work. Jean-François quickly realized that he could make enough money to support his hockey dream through dealing drugs on the streets of the major cities he bounced around between. He hated having to resort to making money from the pain of others addiction and wished that those he sold to would seek help, but he also knew they were going to get drugs one way or another and at least he wasn’t trying to actively hurt people.

Jean-François Bokassa was a fearsome kid fighting for survival in the drug game

Jean-François quickly became a titan on the streets and titan on the ice. He was able to set up his own crew and largely stay out of the day to day of dealing drugs, allowing him to focus on his game. He quickly rose through the ranks of European youth hockey despite having to join a new team every season with forged documents and a fake identity. He vowed one day to be a crusader against the war on drugs that allowed him to prosper and pursue hockey, believing that addicts need help and should be allowed to purchase drugs through legal means to wipe away the organized crime element that comes with prohibition. The paradox of his position is not lost on Jean-François, but While his story seemingly has a hopeful ending, many other unfortunate youths do not.

Against this backdrop, Jean-François has moved to the United States and entered the SMJHL draft. He has come out of the shadows with his real identity. Jean-François is ready to move on from the stigma of his family and create his own legacy. JFB is a powerful, imposing defensive defenseman. He is a team-first player that doesn’t expect to see his name on the scoresheet often and hopes to not see it too much in the PIM section. He is a fierce protector of his goalie and his teammates and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves if called upon. Jean-François is excited to find his next real home and is determined to make whatever team selects him proud.

Jean-François is tough