Uncrowned Community Builders

I was born and reared in Montgomery, Alabamaâ??the "Heart of Dixie." Black History was an integral part of our everyday life. At school, we routinely studied the works of Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson, W. E. B. DuBois, and a long list of other Black scholars. We sang Negro spirituals and prayed at school, at home and at church. Our segregated Black schools were named for George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Daisy Lawrence (local), Loveless (local), and other prominent Blacks.

There were no guidance counselors, but some of the best teachers in the world. They taught us to help each other by what is now called "peer tutoring." We were exposed to a broad spectrum of learning and encouraged to compete in every exam and/or contest available (nothing ventured, nothing gained).

I am the eldest of my mother's two daughters, plus my father's second family (reared in Detroit) of another daughter and a son. My mother was a working mother, and my sister was often away in hospitals and/or boarding schools. Therefore, most of my early childhood years were spent in the home of my maternal grandparents. At that time, there were 10 grandchildren (10 more later) bonded like sisters and brothers rather than cousins.

The family owned lots of land which was shared by the "clan," and sometimes others who wished to use it. In addition to their jobs, the men maintained a huge family garden and a field of corn to fee the two horses, one or two cows, a few chickens and a few hogs. The children were responsible for gathering, cleaning and storing the fruits and vegetable. All of this afforded me a wide range of experiences with farm life and foods of all kinds. There is no doubt in my mind that these experiences led to my choices of Home Economics as a career.

Our family made it clear that we were expected to "stay in school," or "get a job"â??a simple deduction. I stayed in school. Since there were teachers and teachers and more teachers all over Alabama, I dreamed of a career in Theatre. Later, I realized that it was only a dream, and put my heart and soul into becoming a teacher. I chose the strange combination of English Major/Home Economics Minor. While fulfilling the requirements, I took every elective offered in both related fields. This proved to be very profitable when I faced the job market.

I graduated at age 21, and thought I was "grown" (big surprise!). I left home just long enough to marry my childhood sweetheart and renew my relationship with my father. I did not look for a job, because I could not deal with life in the big city of Detroit. We went back to Montgomery then my aunt persuaded us to come to Niagara Falls.

I applied for a teaching position at the Niagara Falls Board of Education, expecting to work and attend Graduate School part time, as was the common practice. I got the shock of my life when I was told "we're not hiring you people." Having left Montgomery in the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, I could not imagine that the same prejudices existed so blatantly in the north.

I was offered a position at Lockport Senior High but did not accept it because my husband and family did not want me to be on the road alone. My next choice was to seek other employment. I did sewing at home and was hired for alterations at the Belleview Shop. I tried working at the Carborundum, but quit before I would be terminated, because I could not keep the fast pace of the assembly line.

Shortly thereafter, I landed a job at AutoLite which I managed to keep just long enough to earn and save the tuition for Graduate School at the University of Buffalo. At that time, UB was a private schoolâ??very expensive. The hours were long, the road was dark, and I was alone, rarely seeing a Black fact. It was tough! Had it not been for the support of the Robinson, the Williamson, the Whitakers and my aunt, I do believe that I would have given up.

It took about three years before things began to happen. Suddenly my services were in demand. I was working as a regular substitute for the Niagara Falls District, while at the same time being recruited by the Diocese of Buffalo for a position at Madonna High School, which I accepted. Three years later, I finally signed a contract and taught for the next 21 years in Niagara Falls schools.

The last eight years of my career were spent as Co-Coordinator of the Home/School Partners Program and serving as Community Relations Representative for the District. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching. It was almost like going to play each day. Many of my students were under achievers, therefore, there was a special delight in having them realize that they could succeed, to know that they were acquiring skills and knowledge which would be useful to them for the rest of their lives. Home Economics provided the opportunity to teach students whatever they neededâ??Math, English, Social Studies and Science. If I had to do it all over again, I would be a teacher. As a matter of fact, I thought I had retired, but I was recruited for the Structural Educations Support Program (SESP) at the Trott Complex (with 15-19 year olds) again!

Young people should realize that we are living in the age of technology. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to operate the machines, they are here to stay. Most people do not start at the top; you have to work your way up from the bottom. My favorite quotation is "Give to the world the best that you have, and the best will come back to you."