PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tom Guleff
(901) 246-5123
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR
The
small boy would walk from the trailer park, through a small ditch, past a
graveyard, and finally to school. On the way to the small school house he
recounts the words of his mom telling him that he is special and that he can do
anything and be anyone if he puts his mind to it. He takes her word on this and
locks it away into his heart. Throughout his life, he will recall those words
over and over in the toughest fights of his life. Like all mothers, she was
trying to position her child for success, making sure the child could reach for
opportunity.
His
school house was a black Masonic temple, but served as a Headstart program for
children during the day. The teachers were warm and kind and they truly loved
every child, even when things did not go well. All were strong women, knowing
right from wrong and instilling those values in their precious charges. That was
their mission, that was their duty, that was what they did.
The
above story is what is most valuable and important to our country. It represents
the enduring goodness in all of us. It
is a story of hopes and dreams, whispered from a mother's breath to the mind of
her child. This is what is so special about our great land. This is our
birthright, to dream of things big and small, regardless of arbitrary and
manmade prejudices. This we claim as Americans. This is what I stake as an
American. This is what I hold dear to my heart. This, I have done my entire life
as an American.
I
promised that little boy in 1969 that I would try to do what was right when
things go terribly wrong. It's that simple. That is what I was taught by my
first teacher, a woman of color. Never to shy away from what was right. I held
her words tight to my heart.
Only
the fondest memories still exist after all this time, because I was that kid who
walked from the trailer park to the Headstart program, and I still hear that
whisper.
Tom
Guleff
Memphis
,
(901)
246-5123
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