An Autobiography : The Perseverance of a Sharecropper's Son

Abstract

My life began in 1947 in a home that was called the “Big House,” located in Anchor Curve, Mississippi. This was also the house where four previous generations my family were born. Anchor Curve isn’t even on the map. It’s simply a small unincorporated cluster of ramshackle farmhouses, located deep within the steamy cotton fields of the State of Mississippi …an area known today as: “The Delta.” Thanks to the Delta’s cheap labor, rich soil, and proximity to the huge tow-boats and barges that ply the Mighty Mississippi River, this was, and still is, the heart of America’s cotton belt. During my years in Anchor Curve, something became very evident to me. The difference between success and failure in this world, was having strong, loving, positive people, guide, support and listen to children at a much younger age than most mentoring programs are targeting today. Children can’t do it alone – nor should they have to. As a child, I had experienced the pains of poverty and the evils of prejudice, as well as the unconditional love and kindness of my family and many others who unselfishly helped me grow and succeed as a person. They made me strong. They showed me what it means to be respected and to give respect. They made it clear how important getting good education was to succeeding in life. They helped me navigate the trials and tribulations of youth to become an empowered adult. Over the past 10 years, other people have helped me develop and implement a successful after school educational, mentoring and tutoring program I named: “Family Advocacy Mentoring,” also known as FAM (see Chapter V) and to complete my Masters Degree in Human and Community Resources at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.