The Learning Center for Francie Mae’s Blog
There are approximately 26.1 million residents living in poverty in the Appalachian regions in the United States. The per capita income is 23% lower than the U.S. average. One in every three people lives in poverty. The Appalachian Regional Development Act can be traced back to President John F. Kennedy. During his campaign for presidency, …
In 1972, I was eighteen years old and voted in the presidential election. This was my first time voting, and I was excited to use the power of the ballot. I grew up during the civil rights era and Black Power movement. I learned that one of the most important rights of American citizens is …
I grew up in the South during legal segregation. My parents were not able to obtain meaningful employment because of racist Jim Crow laws. They worked on farms, picking and chopping cotton. After the cotton season was over, Dad worked as a day laborer and MaDear worked in private homes. They worked whatever odd jobs …
In the book, The Power to Prevail, by David Foster, he wrote “Climbers prevail because they never lose heart. They push back, not with their hands, but with their hearts. They refuse to relent, retreat, or resign themselves to the way things are. They don’t rely on their emotions. Developing their heart muscle gives them …
We all face adversities in life. No one is exempt. As Christians, we know we will have trials and tribulations. We are called to be more powerful than opposing forces. We are called to be victorious. Adversity can be helpful. We grow strong as a result. The key in prevailing in the face of adversity …
After I wrote my book, The Tangled Web: A little girl’s struggle to overcome racism and poverty, I was excited to tell my family and friends. I surprised by the reaction of one of my long term good friends. She and I have known each other for over 30 years. We met as young adults …
I grew up in poverty in the segregated South. My family and I lived with daily racism. There were legal laws in place that told black people what to do, where to go and where to live, to name a few. Individual and systemic racism were common practices and originated from belief systems. We went …
Voting is a right and a privilege for every person eighteen years old and older. I grew up in the South during the Civil Rights era. Segregationist Jim Crow Laws made it impossible for most Black and some poor white people to vote. Many Southern white people continued to resist change and instituted voting laws …
I lived in poverty but poverty did not live in me. I learned not to have a poverty mentality. I am not defined by my circumstances. Marcus Garvey said that we must emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. It’s very challenging to change someone’s mindset if they have a closed mind. I spent over a year …
A belief in a higher power can reframe our mindset and help us prevail over poverty. There are so many people who are not able to effectively deal with the hurdles in life. A common reason for falling into a pattern of abuse is an inability to cope with theturmoil’s. In desperation people may look …