Old School Thoughts

I want to thank Chloe Naves and Beverly Adams-Hardin for arranging this interview with Ms. Leora Adams. Ms. Leora is 100 years old and “all right mentally and physically.” She chose her mother, Ms. Hattie Henry Garrett, as the woman who inspired her most. I really enjoyed meeting Ms. Leora and look forward to our next conversation.

Ms. Perrion Roberts accepted my invitation to interview her about the woman or women who had the greatest influence in her life. She explains that even during her darkest era, the words of her mother and grandmother were able to infiltrate her thoughts and become the stable foundation for her transitional lifestyle.

Flora Jones did a magnificent job at describing inspiration that she received from her grandmother, aunt, godmother by assessing where she stood and how she wanted to live. Flora is grounded in prayer and selfless service. Her desire to become a professional in the field of mental healthcare says a lot about her own stability. It cements her desire to help stabilize the lives of others - of families.

This podcast has had a tremendous impact on my life. When I reflect on “Old School Events” - I can see all of the characters involved. I am now able to realize the cultural, racial, and systemic intricacies of those experiences. The recordings that we are leaving behind will become part of our legacies and I thank you for your support. Share your stories.

Darrolyn Brown provided another amazing story to our collection of lessons by acknowledging her mother, as the woman who made the most impactful impression on her life. The journey - between this mother and daughter team - was about instilling confidence, pursuing education, demonstrating perseverance, Black Panther Party experience and more. It is easy to get someone to repeat slogans, but getting one to believe all things are possible is something different. During this episode, Darolyn made reference to Helen Reddy, but she meant Helen Keller. Darolyn received the 2004 Wayne R.E.S.A. Detroit Teacher Of The Year Award. A great legacy.

Chloe added her legacy of wisdom to this archive of extraordinary testimonies when she shared the wisdom of her mother and paternal grandmother. Her mother taught her and her siblings how to pray and turn it over to God and her paternal grandmother instilled the will of “self identity.” This is another powerful testimony. Thank you, Chloe.

During this episode, First Lady Marilyn Daniels’ shares the wisdom of her mother: Ms. Gertrude Price. First Lady Daniels credited women from the Bible to Vice President Kamala Harris, but her greatest influencer was her mother. She said, “Whenever I encourage my daughters, I hear my mother.”

Humility means a lot to me, personally. Tracy Gray epitomizes humility as she continued to express respect for her “Mothers Of My Mothers.” That is a profound statement. Tracy extends her narrative to include descendants of Vicksburg, Mississippi - Chicago - to New York.

During this tribute to Inspiring Women, Tracy Gray introduces us to a 14 year old girl whose unfortunate exit from Tuscaloosa, Alabama became a road to high standards and excellence for generations of women descendants to emulate. Up From Tuscaloosa is a historical narrative of trials, perseverance, and excellence.

LaTonya shares how her grandmother, mother, daughter, and mentors helped shape her values and perspectives about growing up “Woman.” We can learn things in many different ways. That is what I gathered from LaTonya’s testimony.