Lilly, Jr.
Tag Archives: Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center
Snowball Fight!
Lilly, Jr.
The students at Mary Mitchell built this Snowman and named it after me…calling it Lilly, Jr.
When I asked why I had to have a child that will melt, Sensi Will said: so I can take care of it once a year.
Sensei Tony
Hi Tony! Sensei Will was telling me you grew up in North Carolina.
Yeah, I did.
He told me a little bit about your past and the racism that you had to endure with as a child. He said something about how you were tied to a tree?
Yes. I was. That happen when I was a little boy. I was only in the third grade. I remember it like yesterday. What happened was, it was Valentine’s Day. All the kids brought in candies and gifts. We had a little party. A little white girl gave me some heart shape candy and kissed me on the cheek. You know that colorful candy with words on it shaped like a heart? Well, we had that candy back in the days too!
Anyways, when it was time to go home boys, around my age and a little older, followed me and my brother taunting us along the way. Telling us we shouldn’t be liking any white girls and things of that sort. They beat us up and then proceeded to drag us into the woods. Next, they tied us to a tree telling us they were going to leave us there for the bears to get us. We as children were terrified. It began to get dark and we were still there. Then, I saw the bushes move and that’s when I began to struggle a little more to get unloose.
Finally, the rope came unloose and I untied my brother. We first had to find our way out of the woods being that it was night-time. When we got home, the base (we lived on an army base) was filled with cops and others looking for us. When we told them what happened, nothing was done to punish the boys who taunted us.
Tony is a Martial Arts instructor at the Mary Mitchell Center. He shared his story about growing up in the south with the Mary Mitchell family.
In Celebration of a Great Work
Along with the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center, I am preparing for the long, historical, event-filled weekend (it’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s day on Monday. Saturday is National Volunteer Day and to top things off President Obama will be sworn in for a second term).
For starters, tomorrow, Mary Mitchell will be hosting a celebration of Dr. King with the children by simply helping the children to understand the importance of what Dr. King did for the American people. I hope the children look at Dr. King as a man who did something they can all do- dedicate their time and love to their community, state, and country and even the world. (Do you know Martin Luther King Jr. is the only lay person in American History to actually get a national holiday?)
Some, as children, learn about Dr. King really young but not all understand that he was not great because his name was King or because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but he was great because he did the work that God called him to do and put his entire heart into his work. If only more people would work more diligently, perhaps our communities would be a little better.
I was listening to an old recording of my deceased apostle, Bishop Goodwin, and he said: Paul told Timothy, stir up the gift that is in you…[if] you want the Victory, stir up the gift.”
In other words, whatever that is good, that God is calling you to do- do it and do it well. You may be a child and your duty may be to go to school. Don’t go to school and be a disappointment to your parents. Be the best student you can be…Whatever it is that you are on this earth to do- whatever that is good- do it and do it well.
Exit
Banned Books
Last year one of my little fifth graders came in my classroom and asked me what masturbation meant. I first asked her to repeat the question to make sure I was hearing correctly, then I asked her where she heard the word.
It’s in this book I’m reading
What’s the title?
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Oh, I replied. Can I see the book?
She gave me the book and I told her to first let me scan the book and then we could ‘talk’. For the rest of the day I was wondering how to handle this situation. Finally, at the end of the day she came back for her book. I told her to first give me more time to read it. I thought maybe she was reading a book that was not written for her age bracket but then I found out the total opposite. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is written for people her age!
To say the least, I never explained what the word meant neither did she get her book back. Instead I gave her Ellie McDoodle Have Pen, Will Travel by Ruth McNally Barshaw.
I learned from Courier-Journal.com that this week is supposed to be Banned Book Week. Fight against censorship and free speech they call it…who’s fighting to keep our children innocent?
Mr. Dee’s Fedora
Mr. Dee normally wears baseball caps so I was pretty excited when he came in with a fedora. I like when young men try new styles rather than the same thing all the time. I think young women are more daring – as in trying new styles – than the guys.
Just in case there are guys reading this blog and want to try something other than the ordinary baseball cap, he picked his up at Forever 21.
Staff
Mr. Dee & Amanda
Another one of my couple shots. I can’t believe I didn’t post this. I told Nyla to smile and she told me No!
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