The Story of
JERRY BOYD A Man Who Dared to Dream
By Hailey Ashley
W
hat does success mean to you? Fame? Fortune? Or is there an entirely different meaning, unique to each and every one of us? As we dive into the life of Mr. Jerry Boyd, the definition of success is seen in an entirely new light. His incredible journey opens our mind to one of the truest forms of triumph we’ve ever seen. As we spoke to Jerry, we quickly learned that we were dealing with a man of depth. One who has been on a long, strenuous journey in life. He took us through the ups and downs he’s experienced, and the strength he’s been able to achieve. This is a man who has made something of nothing, and taken the most sour of lemons and created the sweetest lemonade. Coming from humble beginnings, Jerry was born into a family of share croppers in Alabama. From the time he could walk, until the ripe age of 10, Jerry spent his days in the fields. Day in and day out, in the freezing rain, or the beating sun Jerry did what he knew how to do, pick cotton. Living with his mother, and stepfather, he did what he needed to do to contribute. But as the days grew long, Jerry would look to the endless blue sky and dream. He dreamed of a better life for himself, and with the influence of the first television show he ever saw, ‘Cisco Kids’, he dreamed of one day being apart of the magical world of entertainment.
20 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
