Excerpt #1 From The Book

For Africa to me… is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.  Maya Angelou

    In our communities, there were colored positive role models such as dentists, doctors, cinemas, a radio station, florist, pharmacists, a police precinct, clothing stores, Colored, Negro water fountains, and bathrooms. We would play together, walk to school and church together, we never had to explain to another, in mid-sentence, our way of speaking because the listener assumes, we are speaking in codes, sentences were never abruptly interrupted with what does that mean?  

The best part of High School for me was between 7th through 11th grade was singing in the chorus. The instructor’s name was Miss Maude. I remember when assemblies were scheduled, the student body would ask “are we having assembly? What period?  Our genre of music was mostly Negro Spirituals. The chorus’ attire for the girls would be either a black or white pleated skirt, white or light blue blouse ¾ sleeve button down the front, black or red scarves around our necks, black patent leather shoes, and nude stockings. Mom would mumble “she wants to sing but where is the money coming from to buy all these clothes?” Dad would say “she asks for very little,” mom did agree. I truly asked for truly little. The boys wore black suits, long white sleeve shirts, black ties unless there was a special concert then they wore tucks (rented). We looked great in our concert clothes.  All rehearsals to include dress rehearsals were mandatory. If any students’ academic grades were affected, then the student could not participate in the chorus. Very seldom would a student fail academically? The chorus members were athletes, cheerleaders, members of the marching band, drama club as well as some of the student body. Various schools would invite our chorus to sing. Although I do not sing professionally, I will always have a singing heart. 

Miss Maude our chorus teacher mentioned to our parents there is a summer music camp in Miami Springs High. Some parents were hesitant because during those days that school nor area of the county was not yet integrated…. Read further.