I Remember "Winky"

     Blog 57

I Remember “Winky”

by

Barbara P. Hendricks

Barbara P. Hendricks

It is quite usual to find articles in newspapers and magazines about memory-the long term, the short term, the impact it makes on life-long learning, the loss of it; memory is a favorite topic. It seems that the older I get, the more frequently I recall my early childhood years. I remember fondly many things that happened to me, even before I was old enough to attend school.

Some people might think that I had a lonely childhood because I grew up without any brothers or sisters, but I was never lonely. I enjoyed the companionship of neighborhood playmates and my friends from Sunday school.  Because I was an only child, I had a very special relationship with my mother and father and my grandmother who lived with us. I learned earlier than most children, the art of conversation because I spent a lot of quality time with the adults in my home and with the adults who often visited us.

According to educational terminology, I was a precocious child. My parents were always seeking ways for me to interact with children of my age. Perhaps they needed some time away from endless chatter and questions. The solution for all of us came from a family friend, Miss King,” who lived one street over from ours. We could see her house from our back yard and a shallow creek separated our back yards. Miss King was a first grade teacher and in those days, teachers’ salaries were truly meager. During the summer months many black teachers took jobs as maids or babysitters to supplement their income. Miss King had another idea. She had a big house and no children of her own, so she opened a summer “kindergarten” in her home. There were no kindergarten available to black children and this decision on her part generated much excitement among Miss King’s friends who had children.

I still remember the day my mother told me about the kindergarten and then said that I would be going there for the summer. I was so excited I could hardly wait for the first day! My mother took me shopping to buy my first “book satchel” (today’s kid say “book bag”). On opening day, my father gave me fifty cents to pay my “tuition” for the week and my mother tied it in the corner of a handkerchief for me. I packed a little notebook, a pencil, and a box of crayons in my new book satchel. My mother tucked the handkerchief into a pocket on my dress and I was ready to go. My mother walked with me to the end of the yard and waited until I walked across the plank from one side of the little creek to the other. When I was safely in Miss King’s yard, I waved to my mother and ran to Miss King’s back door.

When she opened the door and directed me to my “classroom” I could not believe what I saw! I had been to Kiss King’s house many times with my mother, but what I remembered as her dining room had become a bright and colorful room filled with all kinds of books, small toys, colored paper for drawing, and a big chalk board stood in the corner in front of her china cabinet. It was the most beautiful room I had ever seen- a room just for children who were five years old, like me. Shortly after I arrived, five other youngsters came and I was really happy because I knew them from Sunday school.

Kindergarten was off to a great beginning! Miss King then told us that she was going to teach us how to read and she brought to the dining room table six brand new “readers.” We most often hear that children in that time period remember Dick and Jane. A boy and a girl were mentioned in my new reader, but I have I have no memory of their names. In addition to their mother and father, there was one other member of their household. His name was “Winky” and he was a little monkey!  I don’t know why Winky stands out in my memory, but I distinctly remember Winky.  After a few weeks, I was reading quite well because I loved to read about Winky’s antics. In the reader he was pictured wearing a little blue suit and a little round hat that sat on the side of his head. To this day, I do not know why there was a monkey in their home as a pet in 1944. Today, it is not unusual to hear of people choosing pets like monkeys and other animals normally considered to be wild. Nevertheless, I remembered Winky.

Winky set me on a course that is with me to this day. I am sure that my enthusiasm for reading was enhanced by my introduction to him at Miss King’s Kindergarten. Every day I would carry my little reader to school and back in my book satchel! On weekends I would line up all my dolls and read to them the stories about Winky. I even created some new stories about him that were not in the book! My creative juices flowed freely back then and that little reader was very special to me, mainly because of Winky. I have retained that love of learning to this day.

When my own children were born, I bought a book for each of them and they too grew up loving books. A great joy to me has been seeing my daughter reading stories to her children from books that she owned as a child. My home still has some of those books on the book shelves and our grandchildren often select them to read when they visit us. I don’t know which characters they remember or find most appealing, but as far as I am concerned, I still remember Winky!

Note:

            A brief bio of Mrs. Hendricks can be found in blog 39.

#56 - A Phenomenal Woman

Blog 56

A Phenomenal Woman

by

Vernon M. Herron

Mrs. Carolyn Brenda Reynolds Jones

The Western North Carolina Chapter of Bennett College National Alumnae Association recently recognized and honored Mrs. Carolyn Brenda Reynolds Jones as a Phenomenal Woman of the Church. In her own words, Maya Angelou describes this:

  Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

but when I start to tell them, they think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips,

the stride of my steps, the curl of my lips.

I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist, and the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered what they see in me.

They try so much but they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them they say they still can’t see.

I say

It’s in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style.

I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s the click of my heels, the bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand, the need of my care,

‘Cause  I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

‘Phenomenal’ is defined as very notable or remarkable; it or one is extraordinary or exceptional. The criteria of The Bennett Alumnae Association included the following descriptive words as impact, involvement, inspiration, integrity, spirituality, humility, kindness, wisdom, perseverance and serving others. We too, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC can call Mrs. Brenda Jones a Phenomenal Woman because of her 3P’s: Position, Purpose and Personality. She is indeed a very notable, remarkable, extraordinary and exceptional person.

Position

Mrs. Jones is the beloved wife of Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Sr. who is the pastor of one of Charlotte’s most prestigious mega churches, the FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. This is a mega church   with a membership over 7,000 members, of which 62% are females and 38% are males. The age groups reveal 8% children and youth; 60% adults 18-54; 23% senior citizens; while 8% is unidentified.

She is the alter-ego of her husband, a second “Cliff,” a trusted friend who is the opposite side of his personality. She articulates his philosophy, extends his spirit and brings his dreams to fruition. As such, Mrs. Jones is the FIRST LADY of this phenomenal congregation.

Purpose

Even though “Miss Brenda” is an alter-ego, she conducts a unique ministry of personal and group needs in her own way. Among many noteworthy achievements, she helped established the Youth Opportunity University (Y.O.U.), a summer program offering academic, religious and cultural enrichment as well as scholarships for local and South African students. She was the co-founder of the CREW (Christian Really Enjoying Witnessing), coordinator of the New Perspective Bible Study (for Women) and Ministry, advisor for the Baptist Young Women (BYW), Sunday School  teacher, senior high superintendent, youth advisor and director of youth life.

Personality

The personality of Mrs. Jones is not self-serving. You won’t find her in a special seat reserved for the “first lady.” Rather, she moves about the congregation, sitting with “any” and “all,” sharing her Bible and hymn book with one who may be the city’s mayor, the former mayor,  a legislator, a judge, an educator, a financier, a doctor, a technician, a retiree,, a student, a laborer or a struggler. Her movement enhances identification with people. She loves people at their point of need. She embraces the church and calls “them all” family.

Mrs. Jones is known, loved and respected through senses rather than through thought and intuition.

To know Carolyn Brenda Reynolds Jones is to love her;

            To love her is to see her in action;

            To see her in action is to observe a—

P H E N O M E N A L     W O M A N

#55 - The Wadsworth Estate: A Symbol of Eloquence and Distinction

Blog 55

The Wadsworth Estate:

A Symbol of Eloquence and Distinction

by

Vernon M Herron and Judge Shirley Fulton

The Wadsworth Estate

The Charlotte community has acquired a most distinguished and eloquent estate which enhances the cultural life of this locale. It is The Wadsworth Estate, a property listed on the registry of Historic Landmark properties and now is used for weddings, receptions, meetings and other special events.

THE GEORGE PIERCE WADSWORTH HOUSE turns 100 years old this year.  Built in 1911, the residence, carriage house and gardens in Historic Wesley Heights, are unique North Carolina examples of the Arts and Craft era that has earned historic designation.  Throughout 2011, we will commemorate the property and its significance in Charlotte Mecklenburg’s development and explore a century of history and culture.

The celebration will include myriad events, experiences, and topics—drama, music, literature, culture, law, art, community conversations, introspective, and more—opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn and to engage as we weave through and explore these 100 years, locally and beyond.

The house is located at 400 South Summit Avenue in the Wesley Heights neighborhood, an early twentieth century streetcar suburb, of Charlotte, North Carolina.   Occupying the equivalent of three lots, it faces east on a corner lot at the juncture of South Summit Avenue and West Second Street.   It is positioned to capture the aura of the Charlotte skyline and the excitement of the activities at the Panthers football stadium.  It is within walking distance of uptown Charlotte and two blocks north of the West Morehead Business corridor, making it easily accessible from all of the major travel thoroughfares.

The Wadsworth family continued to live in the house after the sudden death of George Pierce Wadsworth in 1930 at the age of 51. James Dallas Ramsey, an officer of the Textron-Southern Company, and his wife, Pearl Shelby Ramsey bought the house in 1936. The Ramseys converted a portion of the west side of the second floor to an apartment and adapted a small sleeping porch as a kitchen, probably during the late 1940s. The Ramseys moved in 1967, and the house stood vacant for two years.  In 1969, during the Civil Rights era, Mrs. Ramsey sold the property to an African American family, prominent businessman, Worthy D. Hairston (1902-1969) and his wife, Marie S. Hairston.  Hairston, a funeral director who had established the Hairston's House of Funerals in 1930, moved his family and business from Beatties Ford Road to the Wadsworth House.

Judge Shirley L. Fulton

Judge Shirley L. Fulton bought a home in Wesley Heights in 1989 and moved in 1990.  She discovered Wesley Heights neighborhood when she was searching for a home that was easily accessible to the interstates and major thoroughfares.  As a superior court judge, she was assigned to preside over courts in many North Carolina counties, but primarily in the western region.  Upon her return from these assignments, she found herself sitting in traffic trying to reach residence in south Charlotte. She was impressed with the architectural character of the housing stock and the tree lined street and recognized the potential for revitalizing the neighborhood as a desirable place to live.  After organizing the community as a nonprofit community development corporation, she led the community through a renaissance to reclaim the housing stock, reduce criminal activities, and develop a greenway in the community as a part of Mecklenburg County’s greenway master plan. 

Fulton had a vision for the property as a conference center, something that was missing on the Westside.  She pursued that vision through a restoration of the main house initially, maintaining most of its original features.  This part of the property was opened for business in August 2001.  

In 2007, Judge Fulton started the restoration of the servant’s quarters/Carriage House.  As it turned out, this project took the better part of two years to complete. Its grand opening and reopening of the main house took place on January 16, 2010 as part of Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday celebration.  The Carriage House is now in use primarily as a wedding chapel, but is also used for meetings, receptions, small dinner parties, family reunions, political events, social gatherings and all other special events.

Blog 54 - Is Jesus Black Enough? Raising the Level of Consciousness

Blog 54

  Is Jesus Black Enough?:

Raising The Level of Consciousness.

by

Vernon M. Herron

Black Jesus at Gethsemane

by

Gretta Whitted

According to demographic and statistical reports, there are five billion peoples on the face of the earth and the majority of them are peoples of color. In fact, it is reported that 2/3 of the world’s population is dark skinned. It is also reported that there are more than two billion Christians and that one third of them are dark skinned people.  If that be true, color is significant to one’s perception and image of a divine order. Since the Jesus of history is “all things to all people,”  African Americans ask, “is Jesus black enough?”, Jews and Arabs might ask, “is Jesus brown enough?”, while Caucasians can ask “is Jesus white enough?”

The dark skin of Jesus can be seen as Luke 1 speaks of Mary as, “The Black Madonna.” Mary was the mother of Jesus. She was a distant relative of David and Solomon who were of the lineage of Boaz, direct son of Rahab, “the Black Canaanite.” (Ruth 4:13) His existence can be found from Genesis to Revelation since He is Alpha and Omega. His earthly maternal genealogy can be traced from Adam to Noah and Ham. Therefore, Jesus was dark skinned.

That means that where there is difference in race, skin color and even location, there may be a difference in culture, modes of living and even religion. However, in all areas, relevancy of a deity is the key.  That is to ask, is Jesus as a God-man  sensitive to one’s total needs?

Referring to the Jesus of history rather than to the Christ of faith, the question of  Jesus’ blackness, raises the issue of consciousness and at what level.    

                                  

Often a people have experienced a mind-set which endured discrimination in housing, education and employment. The Civil Rights movement of the late ‘60’s was a period in which the level of consciousness was raised. Like a horizontal dial, it moved from being a victim of circumstance to commitment, seeking to end discrimination and to guarantee equal rights and opportunities to all people.                    

Consciousness defined is the state of being conscious, aware and alert. To raise one’s level of consciousness is to make one more aware of his or her potential to cause political or social change in oneself.  Conscious-raising is a method of making people more aware of their ability to bring about change or reforms. Conscience then is the sense of right and wrong.       

During the protesting years of the late ‘60’s, the community’s mind-set was challenged in various ways. We experienced a Viet Nam War, politics by assassination of which John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were killed. Various methods were used to make people become more aware of their potentials in voting, economic and educational power. Vocabulary changed. “Black” replaced “Negro” and “colored,”  “Black” became beautiful; the individual claimed worth by declaring that, “I am somebody.” That language influenced speakers of every sort including this preacher.

One Sunday in ‘68, this writer preached a sermon entitled “Is Jesus Black Enough?” at the Second Baptist Church in Joliet, IL. In that sermon, the real Jesus was portrayed with high cheek bones, woolly and nappy hair, (Rev.1:14) thick lips, thinly dressed, who appears as the suffering servant, despised, rejected, wounded, whipped and beaten with many stripes, bruised and cast out. (Isa.53) This Black Jesus is in contrast to the conception of an Anglo Saxon painting of a Jesus, associated with Wall Street and as portrayed by an European artist.

That sermon inspired a listening-parishioner-worshipper-artist, Mrs. Gretta Whitted who took mental notes, went home and immediately painted a Black Jesus to whom the Black community and others could relate. The following Sunday the portrait was presented to the pastor who found a prominent place for it in his residence.

Shortly afterward, an elderly saint stood before the revealing painting and said: “Look what they have done to my Jesus. They have made Him Black. Well, my Jesus has brought me this far over the years and I am not giving Him up now for another.” That saint had a mind-set, her conscious level was not raised and she could not effect change in herself nor in others.

Is Jesus Black enough? The answer is NO, if there is no movement of a mind-set conscience which stagnates mental and spiritual growth. The answer is YES, if there is awareness of a new personal potential and motivation toward a more just and humane society.

The historic Jesus comes in all shades of colors to all people. He comes in a skin color of red, yellow, black or white. His “enough-ness” depends on how you perceive Him to be, His sensitivity and His response to the needs and cries of His people. He is a personalized God who visits when one is in prison, clothes when one is naked, feeds when one is hungry, attends when one is sick, comforts when one is cast down, restores when one is ostracized, and made whole when one is wounded. “Enough” means that there is connection with the Divine because He sees me, knows me, needs me, loves me and calls me.

            ___________________________________________________

About the artist:

Mrs. Gretta V. Whitted

Mrs. Gretta Whitted was born, reared, educated and employed in Joliet, Il. She developed an interest in Art while attending Joliet Central College. Gretta drew the artwork for the manuals that were enclosed with the ammunition that was produced at the Joliet Arsenal. She is a member of The Second Baptist Church of Joliet, Il.

Blog 53: QUANTITY OR QUALITY

Blog 53

QUANTITY OR QUALITY

by

Vernon M. Herron

At the conclusion of cleaning a yard, a helper asked a gardener for a cup of coffee. “Yes,” said the gardener, “if I don’t have a full cup left, I’ll just add hot water.” Where upon the helper said, “Oh well madam, I would rather have half of a cup and it be strong and good, than a full cup and it be weak and bad.”

A male grocery shopper wanted to surprise his wife and bought a bundle of overly ripe bananas at a bargain price. Upon examining the surprise bundle, the wife explained that fresh and fewer bananas would have been better for the family even at a higher price rather than at the bargain rate.

This author has written seven books. By title, they are as follows:

·         Our Family Tree: A Genealogy of the Herron-McPherson-Harris Family.

·         A Service Handbook of Special Occasions for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

·         System Approach to Management Theory.

·         A Descriptive Analysis of Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y from a Theological Perspective and as Practiced by National Liberty Corporation.

·         A Genealogical Study of Richard Herron (c1810-c1890) and Family of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. (A Genealogical Study in Enslavement).

·         Alexander E. Johnson (c1857-1917) and Family of Orangeburg, South Carolina.

·         Herron Speaks-Volume I.

When this list is reviewed, questions arise.

           

·         Seven books, so what?

·         Following the subject, was there substance in the content?

·         Following the subject, were the readers and writer affected?

The issue at hand is, it is not quantity that counts but quality!

Genesis 5:27 notes that the earth’s longest “live-er” was Methuselah who lived 969 years and “he died.” Even though he lived long, according to the record, he accomplished very little. He attended no school, built no home, church, nor city. He gave no speech, no endowment, lead no army. All that is known from the records is that Methuselah lived 969 years and he died. Oh yes! There is one thing noted. Methuselah had “off springs.” Gen. 5:25 names a son Lamech while verse 26 notes other sons and daughters born in his old age.

Look by way of contrast to prophet Micah, Jesus, the Christ and Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Micah wondered what would God require of him for the sin of his soul? (Micah 6:7-8) He raises questions of possibilities dealing with quantity but found answers in the quality of reality. “Shall I come before the Lord…” asks Micah,

...with burnt offering?

…with calves of a year old?

…thousand of rams?

…ten thousand of rivers of oil?

…my first born?

…the fruit of my body?

He found the answer in the performance of quality.   The Lord required Micah to:

            …do justly.

            …love mercy. 

            ..walk humbly with God.

While Methuselah lived for 969 years, Jesus, the Christ lived 33 years on earth. Only three of those years were spent in His earthly ministry. Of that short period of time, His influence inspired more culture, literature, art, education, architecture , government, religion, business, and courts , world- wide than any other.

Though born in poverty, the birth of Jesus, His physical, mental, social and spiritual growth evolved into a world-wide movement which exposed him as a wise and prudent leader. Through His life, death and resurrection, He demonstrated a faith and a religion between human existence and a divine order.

Jesus, the Christ inspired culture, literature and art and started a religion of which there are more than two billion followers today. We know of no toys which He possessed, yet children around the world admire Him as an idol. He did not attend a college, a seminary nor a rabbinical school, yet schools and universities around the world use His name in their titles and names, while His personhood is used as a theology.

Like Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr. lived a short but powerful and productive life of 39 years. He was a minister, an eloquent speaker for Civil Rights and human dignity. In short, he started a revolution which recognized personal strength, beauty and capability, strength in numbers, how to conquer inner fear and inferiority, the power of love and the urgency for freedom now and for all.

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote five books. By titles, they are as follows:

o   Stride Toward Freedom.

o   Strength To Love.

o   Why We Can’t Wait.

o   Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?

o   The Trumpet of Conscience.

In doing so, he pricked the conscience of the nation and the world which started a revolution of social justice.

This blog stresses, not the value of numbers, nor the amount as may be found in quantity but the substance as found in quality. Therefore:

Do More Than…

Do more than exist—live!

Do more than live—make a difference!

Do more than eat—taste!

Do more than read—digest!

Do more than talk—say something!

Do more than write---have substance!

Do more than work—achieve!

Do more than earn—save!

Do more than receive—give!

Do more than observe—commit!