Land Assistance Fund 58th Annual Meeting on August 14 to 16, 2025
Thursday, August 14: 6:00 PM –Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner Sheraton Civic Center Hotel –Birmingham Alabama
Friday, August 15, 2025
Rural Training and Research Center – near Epes, AL
• 9:00 AM – Panel on Federation Programs
• 1:00 PM – Special Session on FSC/LAF Memorial Legacy Project
• Afternoon of Workshops, Tours, and Fish Fry
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Rural Training and Research Center
7:30 AM: Mattie Mack Pretty Hat Prayer Breakfast
9:30 AM: Business Meeting with Reports from the Board of Directors and Executive Director
11:30 AM ; State Caucus meetings
To register go to website: www federation com
By Reuters
Front Row – Commissioner Donald F Means, Commissioner Linette Brown, Commissioner Morris Hardy, State Representative Curtis Travis Back, Row – Johnny Isaac, Lameka Bryant, Cortnei Hood, Mollie Rowe, Reginald Spencer, Marquita Lennon, Christopher Jones, Marcia Pughe, Andrea Woods, Charlie McAlpine, Miriam Leftwich, Darlene Robinson, Johnnie Knott, Marilyn Gibson, Brandon Merriweather, Hodges Smith, Hattie Samuel, Howard Crawford, James Morrow, Teresa M Atkins, Brenda Burke, Anita Lewis
The Greene County Racing Commission (Linette Brown–Chairperson, Morris Hardy–Vice-Chairman, and Donald Means–Secretary) was joined by Alabama State Representative Curtis Travis, legal counsel
Brenda M Pompey Esq and Office Manager Gerry Coleman on August 8, 2025 at 9:00 a m to welcome recipients of its 2025 Charity Awards disbursements Also welcomed
Greene County
were recipients of disbursements under Senate Bill #40, Act No 223-206 (“Bill”) for the first and second quarters of 2025 These awards were made possible through proceeds generated from licensed gaming activities at the Palace
Chairperson Brown explained that the Racing Commission hold two charity days each year –one in March and one in
July – which are advertised approximately two weeks in advance The funds raised during these events make up the money distributed as charity disbursements The Commission s goal is to assist as many qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations as possible that provide vital services to the community These organizations offer a range of support including health initiatives food
Rall y to “Fight for the Vote” held August 6 in Selma
Stacy M Brown
two
the Civil Rights
6, 2025
The event was sponsored by twenty organizations across the state including the NAACP, Save Ourselves Movement for Justice and Democracy, Alabama New South Coalition, Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Black Voters Matter, Lift the Vote, Foot Soldiers Park, Bridge Crossing Jubilee, Ordinary Peoples Society, Southern Poverty Law Center and many others
The rally was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965, and to plan and fight to strengthen the VRA based on the challenges and attacks by the Supreme Court (Shelby vs Holder) and many state legislatures
Speakers from the sponsoring organizations were interposed with rap and hip-hop performances, raffles of cash and other door prizes There was food and a giveaway of children’s books and school supplies
By Stacy M Brown
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests 8/5- Shayla Hill 47, of Boligee, was arrested for failure to appear alcohol possession of a still
The Eutaw Police Department reported no arrests and the following incidents
8/10- Gerald Washington of Mississippi reported menacing
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents
8/7- P r i s c i l l a Crawford reported criminal mischief 3rd degree, Item damaged: Passenger side door value unknown
8/9- Tommy Braxton reported court order viola-
tion 8/10- Albert Johnson reported harassment
8/11- Albert Johnson reported criminal mischief 3rd degree, Item damaged: Fence valued at $500 The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following bond 8/1- FyShaun Burton was released on a bond of $1,000 for disorderly conduct
Over
hundred people attended the “Fight for the Vote” rally in Selma at
Memorial Park at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge on August
Carol’s Notes
Memorializing Our Legacy
We built a trail for cooperative living,
A path of life we forged to survive and flourish
The trail flows from Texas, Through Appalachia to the Southeast Our trail crosses oceans to Africa the Caribbean and South America
Our trail for cooperative living is decided and directed
We tend it, nurturing seeds deep in the soil
Maintaining it for more than ourselves
For our trail of cooperatives goes beyond
Our paths for living today
Our cooperative trail is the path of our legacy
We call the names who dreamed our cooperative trail so their spirits continue to live among us
Guiding those after us to follow the steps and stones already laid
Forming their own deep gorges and forging continuing paths for change and growth
We write their names on stones and trees
We recount their deeds on placards at the ponds
As guides through gardens of flowers and orchards of fruit
We paint their works on murals dotting the skies
Forming canopies over the quiet places
Welcoming moments of reflection and peace
We bathe in the stories of those Who dreamed our cooperative trail And vow to preserve their gifts
Through the power of our ancestral lineage Of oral tradition and new technology
We have built a trail for cooperative living
A trail never smooth and easy for building But a trail Blessed by the Almighty And on our Holy Ground - Our Mecca We honor the sorrows and struggles
The crossings and jubilations
Lifting all who placed a footstep on this trail
The trail Memorializing Our Legacy
Carol Prejean Zippert
--Community Calendar--
August 17- Mt Zion
Missionary Baptist Church Boligee AL will host their Pastor Rev Jeffery and 1st Lady Kelly 4th Annual Pastoral Appreciation at 1:30 p m Rev Randy Miller of Mt Zion Mt Hebron is the guest speaker, morning speaker Pastor Jimmie Cockrell from Pine Hill Baptist Church Columbus MS This is also a time for those who have been a part of our church body to come home and join us to celebrate their time as a part of our congregation
August 17- Springfield
Unity Methodist Church will celebrate their Annual
Revival 2025 –“Revive Us Again”
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church August 13–15
7 PM Nightly
Get ready for 3 nights of powerful preaching and worship at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in West Greene, AL
Guest Speakers: Wed, Aug 13: Rev Corey Savage –Plum Grove Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa Thurs & Fri, Aug 14–15: Rev T L Davis, Jr – First Baptist Church, Livingston
Homecoming Rev Bruce W Henderson Sr Pastor of Friendship Baptist church Tuscaloosa, AL will be our guest minister he will be accompanied by his choir and congregation The public is invited Rev Steven Barnett is church pastor
September 21- Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Pleasant Ridge, AL, cordially invites you and your church family to our choir concert to be held at 2:30 p m Guest speaker for this grand occasion will be Rev Antwon Plott Pastor of Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cropwell AL If you would like to
participate in the concert feel free to contact Sis Ireka Hall for more details at 205-792-3148 We’re looking forward to have a glorious time in the Lord Rev Kenneth Gilmore is Church pastor August 18 thur 20From Christian Light Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America 200 Christian Light Way, Lewiston, AL 35462, You are cordially invited to our Annual Revival, Aug 18th -20th, 2025 at 7:00pm nightly Rev Lynn
GIANT KILLERS: MORE THAN TWO (2) BILLION DOLLARS FOR CLIENTS
We, Chestnut, Sanders & Sanders, have won more than two (2) Billion – that’s billions not millions - of dollars for our clients We take on the giants – giant insurance companies, giant corporations, giant governments, etc We are the Giant Killers You need the Giant Killers to fight the giants when you have an injury from an auto accident or other harm
Specifically, if you have any of these injuries, call the Giant Killers
ROUNDUP – Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer - Call the Giant Killers
HERNIA MESH – Problems from hernia mesh implant - Call the Giant Killers
TALCUM POWDER, BABY POWDER & SHOWER TO SHOWER
BODY POWDER – These products may cause Ovarian Cancer –Call the Giant Killers
IVC FILTER – IVC Filters to treat embolism may cause breathing problems and death – Call the Giant Killers
LUNG CANCER – Lung Cancer may be caused by various chemical products in the work place – Call the Giant Killers
SEVERE LUNG DISEASE – Severe Lung disease may be caused by exposure to various chemical products in the work placeCall the Giant Killers
XARELTO – If you took the blood thinner Xarelto and suffered serious bleeding – Call the Giant Killers
PELVIC MESH/TRANSVAGINAL MESH IMPLANTS – If you had a pelvic mesh implant following a hysterectomy or to treat pelvic organ prolapsed and/or urinary stress incontinence – Call the Giant Killers
Don’t
Poetry
Stakeholder and or ganization encour a ge and inspir e scholar s on fir st day of school
August 6, 2025- Greene County High School is off to a fantastic start this school year. We’re grateful to our community stakeholders and local organizations who came out to greet, encourage, and inspire our students on their first days back Your support helps set the tone for a year full of growth, learning, and success
Racing Commission
This year the Racing Commission was proud to support a total of 12 charities, including the Greene County Volunteer Fire Association which represents 14 volunteer fire departments Chairperson Brown said, “We’re proud to support the important work being done across our communities, and we recognize the impact these funds have for those in need ” The Commission remains committed to ensuring that these proceeds benefit organizations that align with its mission to promote public welfare and community enrichment The total amount for charity this year was $116 500 00
The second group of disbursements, based on the Bill, covered both the first and second quarters of 2025 Under the Bill each recipient s percentage is determined by legislation
Chairperson Brown reminded the mayors representing the various municipalities across Greene County of the importance of encouraging their constituents to complete the Census survey as each municipality s award is determined by its population – the larger the population the larger the award
The Statement of Distribution details the amounts allocated to each recipient under the Bill The distributed for the first two quarters of 2025 was $720,000 00
Future allocations under the Bill will be made quarterly subject to the continued availability of funds
The Commission has requested that the Greene County Commission issue payments within the next 10 days (by August 18th) to re-
cipients who receive funds under the Bill
On behalf of the Greene County Racing Commission Chairperson Brown said Though it s been a long time coming, the Commission is grateful that the road has led to this moment, where we can give back to the people of Greene County From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the citizens of Greene County for their patience kindness and support along the way Every bit of the funds shared today is meant for the citizens of Greene County and for the good of the county we all call home ”
Chairperson Brown thanked everyone for attending, for the work they do in their communities, and for their continued partnership She said the Racing Commission looks forward to seeing the positive impact these funds will make in our county Linette Brown Chairperson Morris Hardy, ViceChairman Donald F Means Secretary
The County Racing Commission State of Distribution
Greene County Hospital Board $35,000 Incorporates Municipalitie s of
Tr ump tantr um over shadows Black women's losses
Some things don’t wash of f
1968 campaign pin for George Wallace
By Bill Bumgarner, Bleeding Heartland
Editors Note: This column was published in Bleeding Heartland, an Iowa website on politics in middle America The author points out the origins of Trump s MAGA movement stretch back to and draw inspiration from the segregationist Presidential campaigns of former Alabama Governor George Wallace
Sometime back in the 1990s I watched an interview with George Wallace the four-term former governor of Alabama and a four-time presidential candidate
He was in his mid-seventies at the time In physical decline, Wallace was wracked with Parkinsons and the ongoing effects of an assassination attempt in 1972 that forced him to use a wheel chair for the last 26 years of his life
Yet the pain that was most pronounced in that interview was his sincere regret related to his prominent role as a leading segregationist of the 1960s Wallace was the man who stood in the “schoolhouse door” in 1963 to unsuccessfully try to prevent the admission of two Black students to the University of Alabama
His most infamous statement coming during his inaugural address after being elected governor for the first time in 1962 was: “In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this Earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny and I say segregation now segregation tomorrow segregation
by Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire com)
-
The July 2025 unemployment report released on August 1st did not meet expectations Instead of addressing the deficiencies by his own misguided policies the President of the United States reacted in predictable fashion He fired Dr Erika Entarfer, Commissioner of Labor Statistics because he didn t like the report, and accused the economist of rigging the data, whose appointment was approved by a Senate vote of 86-8
A bipartisan group, friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) which includes former labor commissioners, economists, and statisticians, strongly supported her confirmation Even Trump acolytes like JD Vance (Ohio) and Marco Rubio (Florida) supported her confirmation Rabid Trumpies like Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rick Scott (Florida) were among those opposing her nomination but their numbers were few
forever ”
Standing five foot seven, Wallace was a banty rooster of a man He strode confidently, was an engaging speaker and could ginup audiences primarily disaffected white voters with a populist anti-federal government message It’s accurate to say Wallace and his presidential campaigns were forerunners to Donald Trump and MAGA
In some ways Wallace s career also serves as a template of sorts for today s elected MAGA Republicans to include Iowa’s congressional delegation as well as many serving in the Iowa legislature and the Reynolds administration He freely surrendered his values to seek political aspirations and relevancy
Early in his career while serving as a circuit judge and in the state legislature
Wallace was considered a moderate for his day on both economic and racial issues even speaking out in opposition to the Klu Klux Klan He was also ambitious setting his sights on a run for the governor ’s chair
In the 1958 Democratic primary for governor, Alabama’s incumbent attorney general, an open segregationist, defeated Wallace Afterwards, using a vile epithet for Black citizens Wallace made it clear to an aide that he would never again allow tolerance for African American civil rights cost him votes in a future election
Wallace later commented about his shift in political strategy saying: “You know I tried to talk about good roads and good schools and all these things that have been part of my career, and nobody listened And then I began talking about n******, and they stomped the floor
While MAGA elected officials are typically more nuanced and subtle in their public comments their actions openly support or silently affirm Trump’s executive orders and legislative priorities
See Bleeding Heartland,p 7
There has been widespread protest to Dr McEntarfer ’s firing, because it was nothing more than an autocratic tantrum from a misguided so-called
leader whose sole purpose seems to be to create chaos and destroy our infrastructure including in the words of Heidi Shierholtz, “one of the most respected statistical agencies in the world known for its methodological rigor independence, and transparency ” The President seems unwilling or unable to understand the process of producing the monthly Employment Situation report, which many (myself included) look forward to perusing on the first Friday of each month Data addicts eagerly examine the report looking for fluctuations and yes adjustments in the data because they very often happen Why? The data comes from businesses and other establishments (like government agencies), large and small Many report data promptly mostly because they have the apparatus to do so Smaller businesses, a large part of our economy may report on a delayed basis hence the adjustments Further, the BLS workforce of about 2300 people is eight percent lower than it was in 2010 Moving forward the 2026 budget will be lower by another eight percent Even with the cuts BLS proceeds with precision and accuracy, something that this President has little value for If he even a modicum of respect for the agency it would not have received cuts – it s already lean and mean Further, he would not have fired a BLS commissioner whose work has been exemplary
The August 1st firing of
the BLS Commissioner diverted attention from the actual contents of the report In a tantrum using loaded words like “rigged,” our feckless leader has undermined confidence in the fundamentals of our economy EPI s Shierholtz states, “The economy runs on reliable data The Federal Reserve uses the data to set interest rates State and local governments use them to plan budgets If policymakers and the public can t trust the data – or suspect the data is being manipulated – confidence collapses and reasonable economic decision making becomes impossible Shierholz likened using faulty data to driving a car blindfolded Unfortunately this administration like bulls in a China closet, is managing the economy blindfolded, as with tariffs Let the chips fall where they may The citizens feel the pinch of rising prices and federal layoffs, and that’s the price of electing incompetence
The President s tantrum overshadows the losses that Black women experience from this report Language in the report says that most of the indicators “changed little,” whether we are addressing the unemployment rate the employment population ratio or the labor force participation rate The summary does note that the employment population ratio has dropped by four tenths of a percent over the last year But the summary does not highlight the fact that only Black women saw their employment population
ratio (or the percentage of the population with jobs), drop significantly While most groups (white men white women, Black men) saw drops of a tenth of a percentage point, Black women’s employment population ratio dropped from 59 5 percent to 56 7 percent, or 2 8 percent That’s an extremely concerning drop and it is one that has not been highlighted Why? Too much attention has been placed on the toxic tantrum and not enough on a population that is the backbone of the Black community And it is possible that future reports will further deemphasize this significant change When looking at labor market data, most labor economists suggest that month-to-month fluctuations should be taken contextually, considering the possibility of adjustment But these employment population ratio changes are over the year from July 2024 through July 2025 We need to read the fine print and forget about the tantrums We must pay attention to the appointment of the next Commissioner of Labor Statistics If the new commissioner is a sycophantic loyalist, like Attorney General Pam Bondi we might look forward to only seeing data that this President approves of Driving a car blindfolded, crashing everywhere with data on Black women as collateral damage
Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC-based economist and author Juliannemalveaux com
Judge or der s HUD to r elease $32M in Fair Housing Funds
Advocates say attacks on fair housing constitute a civil rights emergency
By Charlene Crowell
Despite passage of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) in 1968, housing discrimination persists in the United States Fair housing complaints have increased in recent years reaching 33,007 – the highest ever reported – in 2022, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition Further, the year s complaint data also showed that private fair housing organizationsnot the federal government - continued to process the majority of housing discrimination complaints reported throughout the country
This vital work can continue due to a recent federal court ordering the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release nearly $32 million in already-appropriated funds to organizations that support fair housing enforcement, to ensure that all people have equal access to home sales and rentals finance insurance, appraisals and more
After a June 24 lawsuit challenged HUD’s refusal to release the funds U S District Court Judge Sparkle L Sooknanan on
July 29 ordered HUD to release withheld multi-year grants and other payments from HUD’s Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP) that supports the work of 75 fair housing organizations that combat illegal housing discrimination based on race color sex national origin religion or other protected status
Referring to plaintiffs, Judge Sooknanan wrote: “ HUD’s failure to issue new grants by the deadline will rob (plaintiffs) of the opportunity for funding
And they have argued that this harm is imminent because HUD does not even contend that the process to administer the awards has advanced to the stage necessary to make the awards on a permissible schedule prior to the appropriations deadline
The Court agrees
On August 5, in compliance with the first of two court-imposed deadlines HUD outlined an expedited approach on how existing grants would be distributed With its publication on July 29 of four new notices of funding opportunity (NOFO), a 23day grant application period began On or around September 15 – just five 5 days before the current federal fiscal year ends on September 30 - the agency intends to complete all application reviews determine new awards, and issue obligation letters
However, actual grant start dates will be the result of negotiated terms between the agency and each
grantee On September 30, the second court deadline, will detail the agency’s plan to make new grants available
The lawsuit was brought by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) which works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities on behalf of its 170 member organizations, and the Nashville-based Tennessee Fair Housing Council a recipient of 15 FHIP grants since 1995
NFHA still cheered the victory but warned that fair housing enforcement remains under assault
The court recognized the real and immediate harm that HUD’s actions are causing to fair housing organizations and the communities that depend on them as the nation continues to grapple with a fair and affordable housing crisis said Lisa Rice NFHA President and CEO
Rice also termed the court decision “a crucial step in restoring the fair housing infrastructure that millions of people across the country rely on to challenge illegal housing and lending policies and practices and access justice
When FHIP became a permanent HUD program in 1992 the authorizing legislation gave the program explicit duties to: implement testing programs; establish new fair housing organizations or expand capacity of existing ones;
conduct special projects to respond to new or sophisticated forms of housing discrimination; undertake larger long-term enforcement activities through multi-year funding agreements; and bring enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the FHA
But since this January, FHIP – like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and student loan forgiveness programs seems to be fighting extinction
“The Trump administration has been intentional in its efforts to chip away at delay and deny critical civil rights that are codified into law ” noted Rice when the lawsuit was originally filed Fair Housing has always enjoyed strong bipartisan support but now, the Trump Administration is refusing to abide by the budget appropriations decisions taken by Congress, which it is required to do ”
“This is a civil rights emergency and the government is standing by when it should be taking action ” said Reed Colfax Co-Managing Partner at Relman Colfax who is representing the fair housing advocates
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending She can be reached a t C h a r l e n e c ro w e l l @ responsiblelending org
Bleeding Heartland
An independent website about Iowa politics
A Solemn Anniver sar y
By Marian Wright Edelman
This week was the solemn 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the first and only time nuclear weapons have been used in war In 1962 Trappist monk and social justice and peace activist Thomas Merton published the prose poem “Original Child Bomb,” the title using a rough translation of the root characters in the Japanese term for atom This work inspired the searing 2004 documentary with the same name Merton subtitled his “anti-poem” “Points for meditation to be scratched in the walls of a cave, and it consists of a numbered list of 41 comments on the bomb s creation the decision to drop the first bomb on Hiroshima and the aftermath, including these:
“3: President Truman formed a committee of men to tell him if this bomb would work, and if so what he should do with it Some members of this committee felt that the bomb would jeopardize the future of civilization They were against its use Others wanted it to be used in demonstration on a forest of cryptomeria trees but not against a civil or military target Many atomic scientists warned that the use of atomic power in war would be difficult and even impossible to control The danger would be very great Finally, there were others who believed that if the bomb were used just once or twice on one or two Japanese cities there would be no more war They believed the new bomb would produce eternal peace ”
32: The bomb exploded within 100 feet of the aiming point The fireball was 18 000 feet across The temperature at the center of the fireball was 100,000,000 degrees The people who were near the center became nothing The whole city was blown to bits and the ruins all caught fire instantly everywhere, burning briskly 70,000 people were killed right away or died within a few hours
Those who did not die at once suffered great pain
Few of them were soldiers
“33: The men in the plane perceived that the raid had been successful but they thought of the people in the city and they were not perfectly happy Some felt they had done wrong But in any case they had obeyed orders ‘It was war ’” It was war, and despite the reaction U S Air Force bomber Enola Gay co-pilot Captain Robert Lewis wrote in his log after dropping the bomb on Hiroshima “My God what have we done?” pilots and crew members stressed again
and again they believed they did what they had to do But the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki did not produce eternal peace Instead, they opened a Pandora’s box that can never be fully locked back up I have visited Hiroshima with my family, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome), created from the ruins of the only structure left standing near the bomb’s hypocenter, is a reminder of how far we still have to go to make this a world worthy of and safe for all of our children
In 1945 Albert Einstein, J Robert Oppenheimer, and University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the technology used in the atomic bomb founded the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and two years later they created the “Doomsday Clock,” a metaphorical countdown to midnight that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making Beginning that year the clock’s hands were moved every January based on scientists’ evaluation of whether global events were pushing humanity closer to or further from nuclear apocalypse; since 2007, they have also considered climate change and other manmade threats that might lead to global catastrophe This January brought an ominous message: it is just 89 seconds to midnight the closest it has ever been The Bulletin says: “The 2025 Clock time signals that the world is on a course of unprecedented risk, and that continuing on the current path is a form of madness The United States China and Russia have the prime responsibility to pull the world back from the brink The world depends on immediate action ” The same year Original Child Bomb” was published Thomas Merton also wrote this in the essay Nuclear War and Christian Responsibility”: there can be no doubt that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were, though not fully deliberate crimes nevertheless crimes And who was responsible? No one Or ‘history ’ We cannot go on playing with nuclear fire and shrugging off the results as ‘history ’ We are the ones concerned We are the ones responsible History does not make us, we make it or end it ” The young people writing the world’s next chapter will have the chance to make new choices
Marian Wright Edelman is Founder and President Emerita of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities For more information go to childrensdefense org
50th Annual Black Belt Folk R oots Festival
August 23 & 24, 2025
Music, Dance Craf t, Food Play
Senate Sketches #1990.....by Hank Sander s Teachers are Very Powerful.
Teachers are Very Powerful They can make or break our children They can lift or beat down our children They can enhance or denigrate our communities They can destroy or save a people Teachers come in all sorts of roles not just in classrooms
Teachers are Very Powerful
Teachers have been powerful in my life It is easier to remember the negative than the positive
However, I have truly had teachers that challenged me to fly as well as teachers that tried to clip my wings Both helped shape me Teachers are Very Powerful
My first teachers were truly my parents, especially my mother My father taught by example My mother taught by words and actions and examples I learned from both My father had a first grade education He never learned to write his name in spite of being very intelligent He left school after the first grade to help support a family that had about 17 children But he taught me about being strong He taught me about the power of a few words He taught me about saying what you mean and meaning what you say He taught me about standing up to anyone, even the powerful He taught me how to be a man Teachers are Very Powerful
My mother taught me with words and actions and examples She was so good with words that I remember many of them to this day My father rarely whipped me but each whipping was memorable
My mother whipped me often because I challenged her often I rarely challenged my father Both taught me about creativity by taking what they had and making what they needed Teachers are Very Powerful
I learned to truly value strong women from my mother I learned to not be intimidated by strong women from my father
My mother was a very strong, very intelligent and very capable woman She had a seventh-grade education but could read and write very well However
my father was never bothered by her greater education or strength or way with words or intelligence
My mother taught me about being a human being and lifting communities Teachers are Very Powerful I could say a lot more about my parents and teachers, but let’s go on to other teachers My Aunt Catherine lived in New York, and we rarely saw her growing up However, she taught me one of the most powerful lessons Since I was a truly mean child she taught me that I could overcome my meanness She first told me that I was “one mean rascal ”
Then she told me how mean my mother and grandmother were as children Neither of them told me about their being mean They both grew out of their meanness My aunt told me about their meanness and how they grew out of it She taught me that I could grow out of my meanness Teachers are Very Powerful
One of my brothers taught me to be careful in sharing my dreams He didn’t mean to teach me; he meant to hurt me He was the only one with whom I shared my big
dreams ” One day he got mad with me and in front of a lot of people said that I would never fulfill any of the “big dreams” I had He listed each dream I had shared with him I was deeply hurt, but I didn t stop dreaming I just learned not to share my dreams with anyone Teachers are Very Powerful Many of my teachers tried to break my mean and rebellious spirit One gave me poor grades when I had made excellent grades and helped other students to make excellent grades as well I learned to keep scoring excellently on exams in spite of receiving grades less than I earned Some of my teachers tried to break me by never calling on me in class, but I learned to do even better on written exams Teachers are Very Powerful
One teacher used a different approach He was my teacher for just one day because he was the full time school principal There were no substitute teachers in those days He called on me every time I raised my hand if no other student raised a hand I answered each question The next day he saw me walking across campus and called me He said to me, You are not what they say you are You are a smart boy From now on I want you to act like it ” Later he took me and three other boys to his home to stay over one weekend for Mardi Gras He taught me the power of kindness and recognizing and acknowledging the abilities of individuals and lifting persons with words Teachers are Very Powerful
As a child I was creative In my art class (yes, we had art class back in the 1950s in those segregated schools) I was very good at making sculptures from old newspapers soaked in wet starch I was also good at carving things from bars of soap I carved a little dog from a bar of Ivory soap and used brown shoe polish to make spots on the carved dog Other students loved that carving However, my teacher looked at the carving with disdain saying “Boy have you ever seen a dog with a square side?” I was so deflated that I never carved again Teachers are Very Powerful
One teacher in college was particularly impactful In order to help with my shyness she made me participate in plays even though I did not want to She felt this would help me with my shyness She helped me to get a full scholarship for my sophomore and senior years of college She helped me to go to Harvard College for summer school and to Boston University on a special scholarship for my junior year She helped me to get a full scholarship to Harvard Law School She believed so strongly in me that she helped me to fly Teachers are Very Powerful There were so many other teachers Each taught me in their own way Some were female Some were male Some were older Some were younger Most were African American but some were European American Some taught me what to be Some taught me what not to be I learned lessons from all Whatever I became, teachers had a whole lot to do with it Teachers are Very Powerful
Now on to the Daily Diary
SATURDAY, August 2, 2025 – I handled many matters, attended and made remarks at a celebration for a citizen on a 100th birthday and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: SCLC National President and CEO Demark Liggins; Liza Manuel who is 100 years old; Lorraine Capers of Selma; Former State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; and Ella Sanders of McDonough Georgia
SUNDAY – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Faya Rose Toure on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio station I handled various matters attended the Gospel Tabernacle Church of God and Christ shared lunch with several leaders and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Selma Pastor John Grayson; Law Professor Kindaka Sanders; and Josephine Curtis and Lorraine Capers of Selma
MONDAY – I walked, handled many matters and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Alabama New South Coalition State Coordinator Shelley Fearson and Board Chair Sylvia Fitts; Allen Garner of Dallas County; Selma Businessman Bob Frazer; and Karen Jackson and Junior Oliver of Selma
TUESDAY – I handled many matters and attended a book signing and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Blackbelt Folk Roots Festival leader Dr Carol P Zippert; Liz Rutledge who works for the City of Selma; Geofrey King formerly of Selma; Leonard King of Selma; Former Wilcox County Sheriff Prince Arnold; Ainka Jackson of the Selma Center for Nonviolence and Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Geraldine Wofford of Selma; and Queen Tate of Montgomery
WEDNESDAY – I walked, handled many matters, participated in meetings and a Zoom call; attended the celebration of the August 6 Signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act made remarks on a Zoom call about the 1965 Voting
Rights Act and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Marilyn Cosby Charlene Wiliams of Selma; Judson Garner of Montgomery; Former U S Congressman Parker Griffith on his birthday; U S Congressman Shomari Figures; Radio Host Guy Trammel; and Montgomery County Probate Judge J C Love
THURSDAY – I participated in the SOS Conference Call, handled many matters and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Rebecca Marion of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Earlene VaughnArnold of Wilcox County; Shedrick Gantt of Montgomery; Greene County Democrat Co-Publisher John Zippert; Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Reverend Jahmar Sanders of Selma; and Elouise Robinson and Charles Sanders of Baldwin County
FRIDAY – I handled many matters, drove to Montgomery and flew to Washington, D C for the upcoming funeral of a longtime friend Among others I communicated with the following: Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier on her birthday; Ayiraa Fortier of Selma on her birthday; Ted Quant of New Orleans concerning his 80th birthday activities on the next day; Wallace Community College Selma President Dr James Mitchell; Josiah Jackson of Morehouse College; and Greene County Board of Education President Leo Branch
EPILOGUE – When something is ever present in our everyday lives too often we cease to perceive and appreciate its power Teachers are such a thing It s a shame because what is imparted by our teachers impacts us powerfully for the rest of our lives Teachers are Very Powerful
Carolyn’s Tid Bits by Carolyn Young
In His Steps Dwell not in the valley of despair waste not another day Arm yourself with faith and prayer and then be on you way Yield not unto temptation which leads the soul astray But focus on the light ahead and walk the narrow way Your Guide shall always lead you and shield you from harm’s way But you must follow in his steps and listen and obey His strenght shall never fail you as you stop awhile to pray For at the end of your journey
you ll find a brighter day At the end of life’s great journey Heaven s just a step away For all who follow in his steps and listen and obey
Happy birthday to Artie C D Atkins, Ola Lewis, Kim Branch-Garcia Josphine Thomas Sarah Tolliver, Jerrell Smith, Eric Williams, Latoya Taylor, Caleb Hunter, Courtney Davis Raiden Spencer Bryant Alexie White Dr Rose Mary Hodges, Broderk Hardy, Luther White Jr Lateasia Harris
Kinya J Winn, Eric Merrit, Rev William O Morgan, Brandon Jones, Frankie Robertson Jurnee McCoy Shon Crockett Hall Adrain Dixon, Jr , Theodore Rhone, LaSamuel D Armstong Janice Williams TeCoy Wilder
Happy anniversary to Mr and Mrs Jameson & TaShawna Stokes and Mr and Mrs Jasper & Gloria Morrow
Life is a choice between aging and growing, aging is
Mission Possible: GCSD Employee Institute 2025
Greene County School System kicked off the school year with an inspiring Employee Institute, and it was a huge success Our Mission Possible theme set the tone for an amazing year ahead
Staff were energized by an engaging keynote address from our very own, Mrs. Paula Calligan, and came together during the Commitment Circle icebreaker activity to set goals and strengthen teamwork Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and making the impossible possible for our students
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