Prior to moving from the shack off highway 61, the highway stretching from Tennessee to Mississippi, one of MaDear’s brothers came by in his loud rusty old pickup truck. Since they had a strong family resemblance, Uncle Clarence looked like a female version of her. He heard about a big new department store where Black …
My family and I lived in abject poverty in the segregated South. There was never money for Christmas gifts. We were happy if we were lucky enough to get an apple, an orange, and some nuts. One particular Christmas, we had to share an orange. We were thankful for the orange. As always, MaDear and …
I blog and write about my life growing up in poverty to encourage and empower others. My parents, four older siblings, and I lived in abject poverty in the segregated South. Our poverty was the direct result of systemic discrimination. Our parents lacked access to gainful employment, and we lacked access to healthcare. When the …
Today is Veterans Day. It began as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, to commemorate the end of World War I (WWI). In 1938, it became a legal holiday dedicated to veterans of WWI. After World War II (WWII) and the Korean War, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans. President …
My story is a journey through poverty to hope. My family and I lived in absolute poverty in the richest country in the world. I grew up in the segregated South and lived in shacks until I was fourteen years old. Racist legal state and local laws called “Jim Crow” mandated the separation of races …
At the close of the Civil War, almost all Black people were illiterate. There were few schools for white people and none for Black people. Southern states faced with the problem of integrating Black people, began to legislate to make makeshift benefits that resulted in Jim Crow and segregation laws. During Reconstruction, white people did …
The Importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Read More »
My travel group and I spent three days in London before traveling to Scotland (see previous post). Scotland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was a sovereign state and said to have been founded in 843 A.D. Our energetic tour manager was excited to show us his country! …
I believe I have “Travelers lust.” Since exploring France last November, Ontario Canada in June, and Montana and Banff Canada in July, I recently returned from a trip to London and Scotland. Now that I’m retired, I enjoy exploring new places and experiencing different cultures. I didn’t have the opportunity to travel when I was …
Recently, I received an invitation to speak to a local senior group about retirement living. The invitee knew I retired several years ago and maintain an active lifestyle by exercising, eating healthier, and traveling. I jumped at the opportunity! I shared my retirement journey with an eager audience of thirty to thirty five people. The …
After working for 43 years, I retired in 2018. There was a time in my life when I didn’t think I would be gainfully employed to experience the blessings of retirement. If you read my memoirs or blog posts, you probably know my family and I lived in abject poverty in the segregated South. I …