I stumbled into the gym, as I always do,  at 6:00 AM on a Monday morning several weeks ago feeling proud that I hadn’t canceled the 5:15 alarm.  I signed in and walked towards my first workout station when was confronted by a friend that asked, “What do you think of the critical race theory?”  I was startled by the question, as this type of question is not what you expect at 6:00 am and after only one cup of coffee.  In response, I said, “I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know what it means.”  That friend got an honest answer at the time and is still an honest answer presently.  He next inquired about how I felt about Cancel Culture.  I responded with the same answer as I did before.   I imagine that as a 68 year old American of African descent he thought I should have communicated a more fully formed opinion.  As the conversation proceeded, I was asked if I’d read Derrick Bell?  My answer was yes.  I’ve read two of his books.  I was then asked, “What do I think of him?”  My answer was, “I never met him and besides he died in 2011.” Finally, I was asked if I’ve read the 1619 Project.  Again, my answer was yes; I’ve read the 1619 Project.  But, like Bell, I’ve never met Nikole Hannah-Jones either, but I would like to meet her someday.

At this point, I asked him to please give me 20 minutes of his time (especially since he’d taken 20 minutes of mine). I wanted to tell him about the West End Branch.  In 1960, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, Americans of African decent had no library privileges. Now, I could describe the Jim Crow laws and customs of the era, however that’s not the objective as a write this.  However, I will tell you of the four American Families of African Descent who were citizens of South Carolina. Some who served in World War II, stepped forward to solve the problem of restricted library rights.  I am extremely proud that that my parents were a part of that group.   The Colored Women’s Teachers Association of Guinyard Elementary School and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority purchased books for our community.  They also formed a board to purchase land to construct a 900 square foot cinder block building.  In my humble opinion, it’s the most beautiful library in the United States.   I’m equally proud to say that my wife’s grandfather was the General Contractor.  The construction cost was $6,600 and the land cost $600.

My mother volunteered, after spending a full day as a third grade teacher, every afternoon and on Saturday mornings from 1960 until she retired from active school teaching in 1985.  She continued volunteering at the library until 1996.  Before she died, in 1998, she read books to my children Kimberly, Andrea, and Richard Parker at the West End Branch. A part of who they’ve become began within the walls of that library.  Eventually, the Black and White Library merged and the West End Branch became a reading center.  There is so much more to share regarding this story, but I need to stop for my sake. But, it was important to share this story with my friend, and it is important to share with you, the sacrifices made by regular people doing extraordinary things right where they were.  I have more pride in those who sacrificed for Black children than I have bitterness towards those who perpetrated the evil against them.  But, I recognize it is necessary to remember both.

As a lifelong researcher, I deal in observable or documentable facts.  My memory began to become fully formed around 1960.  Consequently, the things that I recall have been permanently stamped upon who I am and what I’ve become.  I began to develop a social conscious at the West End Branch.  It was at the West End Branch, I remember seeing a Norman Rockwell sketch of Ruby Bridges walking to school with Federal Marshalls for protection.  I had to try and understand why the police needed to walk a six year old to school.  I can also document and cite historical sources that occurred before I developed a memory.  Similar solutions were offered by Black people in Albany, Columbus, Augusta, Savannah, as well as all over Georgia and the Southeast.

I sincerely hope and pray that by attempting to eliminate critical race theory (whatever that means) we condemn ignoring historical facts.   To tell how the West End Branch was established without explaining the why it was established, would be the ultimate insult to my parents, Lee and Hennie Parker, as well as to my wife’s grandfather, Freddie Footman.  Let’s get a clear definition of the meaning of critical race theory.  Many of us have already been called upon to reject that which has yet to well defined.  In the words of the great Elijah Cummings, “we are better than that.”   I will not be caught off guard again.  I’m comfortable as an American of African descent with knowing the entire history of my beloved country. I encourage each person that reads this, to engage in honest intellectual dialog and discourse.  Speak up and speak out about the sacrifices and contributions made by all of our American ancestors.