“In March of this year my youngest daughter presented us with a grandson. As I stood in the hospital holding him, I realized that I was the first man in my family ever to hold his first-born grandson. A scarcity of children and the ravages of war, crime, separation, disease, and early death had denied our family that minimal sign of continuity. The revelation made me cry.” Two Soldiers by Charles Dumas – Color Him Father

“My father was a good man, but he was from a generation that viewed providing for your family as a father’s only obligation. Consequently “Brother Martin” filled a great void in my life. He gave me what my father was unable to give: time and attention. Until I met him, no adult in my life had ever spent hours talking to me, counseling me, and encouraging me, He advised and guided me by word and example. I learned how to respect women by watching him.” Winston R. Martin: A Chosen Father by Robert Solomon – Color Him Father

”I wasn’t in charge of my safety, except to the extent that I tried to pay attention as I had taught other students to do. Watch your back. Be aware. You can’t expect that everybody is going to be ok. Every day you get up it’s a crapshoot as to whether you’re going to make it.” First Freedom Rider and Much More – Norma June Davis – Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: The Elders

“Some parents seem less focused on education and more focused on getting their children out to get a job. They don’t put value on education that parents have in the past. Kids all want to be grown and are not – any more than we were – but parents are giving them too much rope. And legislators can find money for everything but education! Parents should go back to being parents and stop trying to be buddies – running buddies. Things have changed, but children still want you to be the mother and the father – the parents.” Extended Family, Extending Wisdom – Donna Y. Roberson Brown –Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: The Elders

“Nobody came to my graduation but Patsy and her friend Cathy. Pauline didn’t come. Thomas did not come. No other relatives came. Patsy took me to eat and that was it. Afterward, I heard Thomas saying, “when is she gonna get out of here? How much longer is she going to be here?” Patsy didn’t say anything to me, but I think she knew I heard him. He wanted me to hear him. I understand that she may have been between a rock and a hard place, but if I’m supposed to be your child, you know…”. The Art of Resiliency – Andrea Charlton – Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: As We Mature

“My mother taught me most of what I know to be the woman I am. She taught me to value me; she taught me to look out for me; not to let people male or female, run over me. She always taught us that even if you have a husband, you have your own, because you never know what might happen.” The Meaning of Sisterhood – Tyna Theresa Price – Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: As We Mature