We lived in a small, one-bedroom apartment in Birmingham the year I was 5. Daddy had committed to a job and our family maintained our home in Decatur on weekends and the apartment during the week. Kindergartens were few and far between, but mother had worked her magic and enrolled me at South Avondale Baptist Church kindergarten. I was quiet and shy. My teacher, Mrs. Lanning was an absolute angel and brought me out of my shell.
kAm$96 >256 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 :? 96C 4=2DD 76=E DA64:2= 2?5 =@G65 2?5 =62C?65 >@C6 E92? ;FDE E96 2=A9236E 2?5 ?F>36CD]k^Am
kAmp7E6C <:?56C82CE6? 8C25F2E:@?[ H6 >@G65 324< E@ s642EFC A6C>2?6?E=J 2?5 |CD] {2??:?8 3682? HC:E:?8 E@ >6] $96 ?6G6C 7@C8@E E96 D9J =:EE=6 3=F6\6J65 3=@?56 E92E =@G65 96C D@ >F49] xE H2D ?@ DFCAC:D6 E@ >J >@E96C E92E x 3642>6 2 <:?56C82CE6? E62496C] $96 <?6H E96 :?7=F6?46 E92E >J E62496C 925 2?5 E96 3=6DD:?8 @7 E96 6IA6C:6?46 2E $@FE9 pG@?52=6]k^Am
kAm%6249:?8 :D 2 52F?E:?8 ;@3] %96C6 2C6?’E 6?@F89 9@FCD :? E96 52J E@ E6249[ E6DE[ 5@4F>6?E[ 5:D4:A=:?6[ 25G:D6[ ?FCEFC6 2?5 C2:D6 E96 DEF56?ED E@ E96 ?6IE =6G6=] |2?J E62496CD 4@?D:56C E6249:?8 E96:C >:DD:@? 7:6=5] xE :D E96:C 42==:?8] %96J 92G6 >F49 E@ 562= H:E9[ 3FE E96J 92?8 :?[ ?@E 7@C E96>D6=G6D[ 3FE 7@C E96 49:=5C6?] (6 2C6 >@C6 E92? 3=6DD65 E@ 92G6 E96> :? E92E C@=6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{2FC2 w2==k^DEC@?8m C6>6>36CD kDEC@?8m#68:?2 |2EE96HDk^DEC@?8m[ 96C D64@?5 8C256 E62496C 2E tG2[ 2D E96 36DE E62496C] p?5 #68:?2 C6>6>36CD {2FC2 2D 62DJ E@ =@G6 2?5 2 DA64:2= DEF56?E] kDEC@?8m$96=2 %9@>2D@? r=6>@?Dk^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8mr2C@=J? t==:?86Ck^DEC@?8m[ H9@ :D ?@H C6E:C65] kDEC@?8m#9@?52 w2CC:Dk^DEC@?8m H6?E E@ w2=6JG:==6 :? E96 7:7E9 8C256] |CD] kDEC@?8m{:?8@ r2>A36==k^DEC@?8m H2D 96C E62496C] (92E :>AC6DD65 #9@?52 >@DE H2D H96? 2 8:C= 82G6 |CD] r2>A36== 52?8=J 3C@H? 62CC:?8D 2E r9C:DE>2D E92E #9@?52 E9@F89E =@@<65 =:<6 H@C>D[ |CD] r2>A36== H@C6 E96> 6G6CJ 52J] #9@?52 H6?E @? E@ E6249 :? s642EFC 2E uC2?46D }F?86DE6C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|:<6 |62?Dk^DEC@?8m C6>6>36CD kDEC@?8ms@EE:6 (C:89E v2C?6Ck^DEC@?8m 2D 2 E62496C[ 7C:6?5[ >6?E@C 2?5 :?DA:C2E:@?] kDEC@?8mv6CC: {@H6CJ’k^DEC@?8mD ?:?E9 8C256 E62496C kDEC@?8mr2C?6EE w2=6k^DEC@?8m H2D 96C 72G@C:E6] v6CC:’D 52F89E6CD 925 |CD] w2=6 J62CD =2E6C 2?5 D96 H2D ;FDE 2D A@H6C7F= 2?5 =@G:?8 2D D96 925 366? H:E9 v6CC:]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq@33J $9FEE=6H@CE9k^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8m|CD] w2>>k^DEC@?8m 2E pFDE:? w:89 $49@@=] $96 E2F89E t?8=:D9 2?5 >256 6249 52J 2?5 6249 DE@CJ 2? 25G6?EFC6] $96 2=D@ =@G65 kDEC@?8m$2> (2EE6CDk^DEC@?8m[ 96C 7:CDE ;@FC?2=:D> E62496C] w6 HC@E6 @? E96 3@2C5 E96 E9C66 r’D — 4=62C[ 4@?4:D6[ 2?5 4@CC64E] q@33J 2D<65 H92E 4@?4:D6 H2D 2?5 96 E@=5 96C[ “xE’D =:<6 J@FC D<:CE] {@?8 6?@F89 E@ 4@G6C E96 DF3;64E 2?5 D9@CE 6?@F89 E@ 36 :?E6C6DE:?8]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#636442 #2?6J %6CCJk^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8m|CD] r2F56=k^DEC@?8m :? 7:7E9 8C256 2E (2=E6C y24<D@?] kDEC@?8m(:==:2> v:==6DA:6k^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8m|CD] r2C=E@? z6==Jk^DEC@?8m H9@ E2F89E 7:7E9 8C256 2E v@C5@? q:33] kDEC@?8mr@??:6 wF=D6Jk^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8mp??6 (6:?>2?k^DEC@?8m H9@ E2F89E t?8=:D9 2?5 t?8=:D9 =:E6C2EFC6 2E |@C82? r@F?EJ w:89 $49@@=^w2CED6==6 w:89] $96 H2D 2 DEC2:89E D9@@E6C 2?5 ?@ ?@?D6?D6[ 3FE H2D G6CJ 7F??J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#632 (25DH@CE9k^DEC@?8m’D 72G@C:E6 E62496C H2D kDEC@?8m|CD] uC@DEk^DEC@?8m :? E9:C5 8C256] $96 >256 #632 H2?E E@ 36 2 E62496C] #632 :D 2 E62496C[ 25>:?:DEC2E@C 2?5 2FE9@C @7 >F=E:A=6 3@@<D @? C625:?8 H:E9 49:=5C6?] w6C 52F89E6C[ kDEC@?8mr9C:DEJ q:D9@Ak^DEC@?8m[ H2D 2=D@ 2 E62496C] $6G6C2= J62CD 28@[ AC:@C E@ C6E:C6>6?E[ r9C:DEJ H2D s642EFC r:EJ $49@@=D’ t=6>6?E2CJ %62496C @7 E96 *62C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mv6C: w67E@?\|@CC:Dk^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8m|2CJ x?8=6C:89Ek^DEC@?8m] |CD] x?8=6C:89E 925 E@?D @7 A2E:6?46 2?5 3C@F89E &]$] 9:DE@CJ[ 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 64@?@>:4D E@ =:76] v6C: :D 2 C646?E=J C6E:C65 65F42E@C :? E96 7:6=5 @7 DA64:2= 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8my2? qJC5k^DEC@?8m C6>6>36CD |C] kDEC@?8mt]r] w6?5@?k^DEC@?8m H9@ E2F89E 7:7E9 8C256 2E rC6DE=:?6] w6 C625 E96 q:3=6 E@ E96 DEF56?ED 2?5 925 AC2J6C 7@C E96> 6G6CJ 52J] kDEC@?8m!9:==:A r@@A6Ck^DEC@?8m[ E96 49@C2= E62496C 2E u=@C6?46 r9C:DE:2?[ 2=H2JD 6?4@FC2865 96C 2?5 82G6 96C 2 A=246 E@ 8C@H >FD:42==J 2?5 DA:C:EF2==J] kDEC@?8m{J?? |2DE6CDk^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8mt=62?@C w2>:=E@?k^DEC@?8m H9@ H2D 96C 7:7E9\8C256 E62496C] $96 E2F89E {J?? 9@H E@ 5@ 96C 36DE C682C5=6DD @7 H92E C@=6 D96 H2D 8:G6?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|:496==6 #:492C5Dk^DEC@?8m C6>6>36CD kDEC@?8m%CF5J !C6DEC:586k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8m{:?52 |2CE:?k^DEC@?8m] %96J D9@H65 96C H92E y6DFD =@@<65 =:<6 2?5 =@G65 96C E9C@F89 5:77:4F=E J62CD] %96J 2C6 DE:== DF49 2>2K:?8 3=6DD:?8D E@ 96C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?52 $9:C=6Jk^DEC@?8m’D 72G@C:E6 E62496C H2D kDEC@?8m(2?52 %C:>> q6CCJ9:==k^DEC@?8m] {:?52 925 E96 AC:G:=686 @7 92G:?8 96C :? E9:C5 2?5 7@FCE9 8C256] %9@D6 H6C6 EH@ @7 E96 36DE J62CD @7 96C =:76 3642FD6 @7 |CD] q6CCJ9:==] {:?52 5:5?’E 4@>6 7C@> E96 D2>6 324<8C@F?5 2D >@DE @7 96C 4=2DD>2E6D[ 3FE 96C E62496C 2=H2JD >256 96C 766= :>A@CE2?E] $96 36=:6G65 :? 96C 2?5 6?4@FC2865 96C] {:?52[ 2 >2E9 E62496C[ DE:== >2:?E2:?D 4@?E24E H:E9 |CD] q6CCJ9:==] %@52J D96 :D 9@?@C65 E@ 42== 96C 7C:6?5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr9C:D $9F3:C5k^DEC@?8m 925 D6G6C2= 72G@C:E6D[ @?6 36:?8 kDEC@?8my62? z@496C]k^DEC@?8m $96 H2D 2=H2JD E96C6 H96? r9C:D ?66565 96C] kDEC@?8mu2J6 pD9E@?k^DEC@?8m =@G65 96C t?8=:D9 E62496C kDEC@?8m|CD] q@K6>2?k^DEC@?8m] $96 E2F89E 6E:BF6EE6 2D H6== 2D t?8=:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#2J qC@H?k^DEC@?8m’D !C:46G:==6 w:89 $49@@= >2E9 E62496C kDEC@?8m|C] !2C<Dk^DEC@?8m H2D G6CJ <?@H=658623=6 2?5 42C65 7@C 9:D DEF56?ED] kDEC@?8mr2E9J y@==J pC>DEC@?8k^DEC@?8m =62C?65 E96 ;@J @7 C625:?8 7C@> kDEC@?8m|:DD $@FE9k^DEC@?8m 2E (6DE s642EFC] kDEC@?8mz2C6? w2>=6EE |2Jk^DEC@?8m =@G65 kDEC@?8m|CD] pE<:?D@?k^DEC@?8m 3642FD6 D96 >256 6G6CJE9:?8 7F? 2?5 :?E6C6DE:?8]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 42? C625 E9:D[ E92?< 2 E62496C] *@F 2C6 E96:C 42==:?8 2?5 E96J =@G6 J@F >@C6 E92? J@F <?@H]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%9:CEJ 2?5 4@F?E:?8k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8myF=:6k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8my:>>J q@?6k^DEC@?8m @7 w2CED6==6 >6E 2E u=@C:52 r@==686 H96C6 yF=:6 H2D 2 D@4:2= 3FEE6C7=J 7C@> ?@CE9 p=232>2 2?5 y:>>J H2D 2 C64=FD6 7C@> pC<2?D2D] $96 C6>6>36CD 5C288:?8 9:> @FE @7 9:D 5@C> C@@> <:4<:?8 2?5 D4C62>:?8] %96J >2CC:65 2E u@FCE9 $EC66E r9FC49 @7 r9C:DE :? rF==>2? 2?5 E9:D H66< 46=63C2E65 b_ J62CD @7 H65565 3=:DD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms:??6C A2CEJk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp==6?k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mr@@<:6 $E@?6Ck^DEC@?8m C646?E=J 9@DE65 2 7@C>2= 5:??6C A2CEJ :? E96:C 9@>6] %96J 4@>A@D65 2 8F6DE =:DE @7 7C:6?5D H9@ H@F=5 6?;@J 86EE:?8 5C6DD65 FA[ 62E:?8 2 56=:4:@FD >62=[ D92C:?8 :? =:G6=J 4@?G6CD2E:@? 2?5 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? A2C=@C 82>6D] w2?5HC:EE6? :?G:E2E:@?D @? =:?6? A2A6C H6C6 D6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 8F6DE =:DE :?4=F565 kDEC@?8mv6AA6 w6C?2?56K[k^DEC@?8m kDEC@?8m|:4926= |2?=6J[ {2FC2 %6CCJ !@H6==[ z2C6? q@I[ r9C:DEJ vC292>k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mqC:2? (9:E6k^DEC@?8m] ~? E96 52J @7 E96 A2CEJ[ kDEC@?8mt5F2C5@ r96G2CC:2k^DEC@?8m 4C62E65 6IBF:D:E6 7=@C2= 2CC2?86>6?ED E92E 7:==65 E96 9@>6] vF6DED ?:33=65 @? 9@CD 5’@6FGC6D @7 42?5:65 HC2AA65 324@?[ 4C62> 4966D6 DEF7765 >FD9C@@>D H:E9 =6>@? K6DE 2?5 3=@@5 @C2?86 C65F4E:@? 2?5 76E2 5:AA65 :? 9@?6J 2?5 4CFD965 A:DE249:@D[ H9:49 H6C6 D6CG65 2=@?8 H:E9 2 DA2C<=:?8 C@D6] p=@?8 H:E9 9@CD 5’@6FGC6D[ 4967 kDEC@?8m#:4< '@?<k^DEC@?8m D6CG65 2 D2=25 H:E9 4:=2?EC@[ 8@2E 4966D6 2?5 7:8 AC6D6CG6D[ =2>3 A@AD[ 2 49:4<6? 5:D9[ 2 G686E2C:2? 5:D9 2?5 C2E2E@F:==6] s6DD6CE H2D 2 4C6A6 42<6 D6CG65 H:E9 DEC@?8 4@7766]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 5:??6C 5C:?<D H6C6 D6CG65[ E96 8F6DED C6E:C65 E@ E96 72>:=J C@@> 7@C 2 ':4E@C:2? !2C=@C v2>6 42==65 u:4E:@?2CJ[ H9:49 4@?D:DE65 @7 @3D4FC6 H@C5D 7C@> E96 5:4E:@?2CJ 2=C625J 49@D6? 3J r@@<:6] t249 8F6DE 925 E@ 8F6DD E96 567:?:E:@? 2?5 HC:E6 :E 5@H?] t249 @?6 H2D C625 2=@F5 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 H:E9 E96 ECF6 567:?:E:@?] kDEC@?8mqC:2? (9:E6k^DEC@?8m H2D E96 H:??6C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!:=@ED D@2Ck^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 !:=@E r=F3 @7 s642EFC 46=63C2E65 da J62CD @7 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 2E E96 |2J >66E:?8] xE H2D 2 DA64:2= 46=63C2E:@?[ H:E9 E96 :?:E:2E:@? @7 7:G6 ?6H >6>36CDi kDEC@?8m$F>>6C tG2?Dk^DEC@?8m DA@?D@C65 3J kDEC@?8m$F6 %C2>>6==[ z6==J w62E9k^DEC@?8m DA@?D@C65 3J kDEC@?8mz2J r92?5=6C[ q2C32C2 {6DE6Ck^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8ms63@C29 %6CC6==k^DEC@?8m DA@?D@C65 3J kDEC@?8mr2E9J p?? tG2?Dk^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8my2<:E2 (9:E6k^DEC@?8m DA@?D@C65 3J kDEC@?8myF=:6 $>:E9k^DEC@?8m] kDEC@?8m}2?4J qF==2C5k^DEC@?8m :?DE2==65 E96 ?6H >6>36CD 2?5 kDEC@?8m&DD6CJ qC2??@?k^DEC@?8m C625 E96 !:=@E 4@56 @7 6E9:4D] %96 !:=@E r=F3 @7 s642EFC H:== 9@=5 :ED `gE9 p??F2= r92C:EJ v@=7 %@FC?2>6?E @? |2J a_E9 2E !@:?E |2==2C5] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 4@?E24E }2?4J qF==2C5 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5642EFCA:=@Ef`o8>2:=]4@>Qm5642EFCA:=@Ef`o8>2:=]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|%| $49@=2CD9:ADk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? |%| t5F42E:@?2= t?C:49>6?E 96=5 :ED 2??F2= &?DF?8 w6C@6D 32?BF6E =2DE H66< 2E uC:6?5D9:A r9FC49 :? pE96?D] $EF56?ED C646:G:?8 2H2C5D H6C6 kDEC@?8mr9C:DE@A96C $E6C=:?8k^DEC@?8m[ @7 pC5>@C6 w:89[ kDEC@?8m%69C:6? qC@H?[ %J<2C:2 !@EE6C[ y24<D@? wF896D[ |246J w@FDE@?k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mpC:2?2 |24<=:?k^DEC@?8m[ @7 pE96?D w:89[ kDEC@?8my@D6A9 |4s6C>@EE[ (:==:2> z:=A2EC:4<k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8m%C6J w2==k^DEC@?8m @7 {:?5D2J {2?6[ kDEC@?8mpC6=: %@CC6D[ sJ=2? t2DE[ |2=2<J6 y@?6D[ y@=:6 |FDE@?k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8my6??:76C |6?5@K2k^DEC@?8m @7 %2??6C w:89[ kDEC@?8m{6G: {2HC6?46[ z2E:6 $E6H2CE[ +2492CJ s2G:Dk^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8m#@?2=5 (2=<6Ck^DEC@?8m @7 (6DE {:>6DE@?6 w:89] r@>>F?:EJ &?DF?8 w6C@ pH2C5D H6?E E@ kDEC@?8m|2C4J (2E<:?D[ s63@C29 vC:KK2C5[ z2CD@? r@==:6C[ {F<6 $EFEK>2?[ #@36CE (:E96C@H[ #2J r2:?[ qC6?52 (:=6Jk^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mp>J v@=56?k^DEC@?8m]k^Am
Get Unlimited Access
$3 for 3 Months
Subscribe Now
After the initial selected subscription period your subscription rate will auto renew at $12.00 per month.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.