I had the privilege of speaking to college students the other night, at Palomar College. My topic was Fan of the Feather and the services we provide for homeless veterans. The challenge was to figure a way to link what FOF does with black history. After a week of thinking about it, the link “appeared” a few hours prior to my presentation. I was proud I finally got the answer, but God always steps in and speaks to me and teaches me something which was intended for others and becomes the lesson for me.
As you may know, I am the author of the crime novel, Among Pigeons. It tells the story of Roman Barnes, a homeless man, during one summer in his life. My plan was to use a crime story to tell the plight of the homeless. It was meant to inspire the audience, but it inspired me. The result is the fulfillment of a vision my wife, Vanessa, and I conceived two and half years ago. We decided to house homeless veterans and the dream came true as we opened our doors on Feb 17th. It was a well-attended and beautiful ceremony, beginning with the presentation of the flag by a girl scout troop and a Marine color guard, from Camp Pendleton.
But, back to the college speech. I asked the students to name some African-Americans deserving to be remembered, this month. The names poured out- Jesse Owens, Angela Davis, Eldridge Cleaver, Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X. I added some of my own. My list consisted of inventors who made a difference in our everyday lives. George Washington Carver, who made one of the most satisfying meals a person could every have-peanut butter. Lewis Latimer discovered the carbon filament. Without it, Thomas Edison’s bulb wouldn’t last very long. I’m pretty sure it lasts longer than the government mandated bulbs we are forced to buy today. Thank you, Mr. Latimer. I’m sorry for your loss. Or is it mine?
In New York, if a building was not higher than five stories there was no elevator. There were many days I wished I had the luxury of the electric elevator invented by Alexander Miles. One of our son’s favorite snacks is the potato chip, invented by George Crum. Our Cox Cable service is provided via fiber optic cable, created by Shirley Johnson. And being an Opthalmologist that has performed thousands of cataract removal surgeries, Patricia Bath developed the laser to make the removal that much easier.
My list was not surprising, as I am attracted to those in the sciences. However I was surprised, not one student presented an entertainer. In light of the fact that Whitney Houston has been in the news for the past two weeks, as a result of her death and funeral, she was not named. It wasn’t that she didn’t deserve to be mentioned, but I recognized a pattern in the names which came from them. The great majority of the names were of activists and those that served, in some capacity, to improve humanity. The students unwittingly were following the path I laid for them. My theme was service. My list and theirs melded perfectly into a large list of African -Americans who chose to serve- not just black people, but the world. They chose to improve the world. They looked beyond their blackness and saw a world that included everyone. They acknowledged a need in everyone.
Jan Matzeliger did not invent a shoe making machine to improve black work, but to improve work! Before his invention, a human had a limit of making 50 shoes per day. His machine made 700! Dr Daniel Williams did not learn and perform the first open heart surgery to save black people. He saw the need to save all people. Garrett Morgan didn’t invent the traffic light to control black drivers and pedestrians. His invention served to offer safety to every population, in every city, on the earth!
So who do we really remember the most? Those who serve. Those who live a life beyond their black limitation. Those that choose to view the world as a valuable person, not a black person. These are the people that leave a lasting impression. Martin Luther King had a dream one day his children would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Have we progressed? Yes, of course. However, I am annoyed by those that constantly want to remind me of my hue. They try their best to keep me from a task of living Martin’s dream. How can I concentrate on the content of my character, if they constantly remind me of the color of my skin? I refuse to give in. I am living Martin’s dream. Fan of the Feather is not race based. It is based on serving those of character, those wonderful veterans who give so many sacrifices to defend the Constitution of the United States, so that I may have the freedom to write this blog without fear and live free.
Those who read Among Pigeons or earlier blog posts, know it was inspired by a white, homeless man who came through our black neighborhood every spring and disappeared every winter. My memories of that filthy ol’ man brought about The Promised Land-Fan of the Feather’s first home for homeless veteran women. This, from such an insignificant man.
Black History Month was started by Carter G. Woodson to celebrate African-Americans, to give us a sense of pride and to tell the stories, of us, we would probably never hear anywhere else, at any other time. It means more than that. It is the month to recognize I am not limited to one culture, one stereotype or one voice. I am composed of many and I am here to help all. I am called to be bigger than myself and think beyond black. I am smarter than others say. I am larger than the box I am supposed to inhabit. As I ended my talk with the students, I concluded that the real lesson is no one is insignificant.
Then the surprise. It was for me. The students never saw the revelation in me. I was transformed, at that moment. God is so funny. As I concluded, I chose to pay homage to a white man! A man I did not know, nor cared to know-John the bum. A man I hated-not because of who he was, but because of who I was. The epiphany? No one is insignificant, even if you hate them! In 1971, Gil Scott Heron released, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. It ends with, “The revolution will be live.” I thought I knew what he meant, then. I know what it means,now. The revolution will not happen on the outside, it will occur within.
The transformation has taken decades. The seed planted without my knowledge. Nevertheless, I am changed. I choose love over fear, service over selfishness and character over color. I choose to honor all people.
My name is Lawrence Wood and I am John’s voice.
Inspiring article.