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28 minute read
School Named for Civil Rights Activist Lacey
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By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter
“I was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” Once it was clear a Teaneck, New Jersey public school was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your mother if it’s the last thing we do.” “I was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” Once it was clear a Teaneck, New Jersey public school was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your mother if it’s the last thing we do.” “I was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” Once it was clear a Teaneck, New Jersey public school was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your mother if it’s the last thing we do.” “I was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” Once it was clear a Teaneck, New Jersey public school was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your mother if it’s the last thing we do.” “I was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” Once it was clear a Teaneck, New Jersey public school was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your mother if it’s the last thing we do.” “I was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” Once it was clear a Teaneck, New Jersey public school was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your mother if it’s the last thing we do.”
Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after Archie, Jr.’s christening Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after Archie, Jr.’s christening Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after Archie, Jr.’s christening Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after Archie, Jr.’s christening Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after Archie, Jr.’s christening Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after Archie, Jr.’s christening
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“I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have a school named for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey School and I said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” So that’s the how of naming a school after a Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing short of a legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. I recall the day I found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside of teaching. I was in sixth grade and we were having Black History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have a school named for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey School and I said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” So that’s the how of naming a school after a Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing short of a legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. I recall the day I found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside of teaching. I was in sixth grade and we were having Black History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have a school named for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey School and I said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” So that’s the how of naming a school after a Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing short of a legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. I recall the day I found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside of teaching. I was in sixth grade and we were having Black History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have a school named for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey School and I said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” So that’s the how of naming a school after a Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing short of a legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. I recall the day I found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside of teaching. I was in sixth grade and we were having Black History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have a school named for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey School and I said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” So that’s the how of naming a school after a Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing short of a legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. I recall the day I found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside of teaching. I was in sixth grade and we were having Black History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have a school named for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey School and I said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” So that’s the how of naming a school after a Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing short of a legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. I recall the day I found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside of teaching. I was in sixth grade and we were having Black History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
Theodora Smiley was born in Montgomery, Alabama and into the civil rights movement. Her mother was a childhood friend of Rosa Parks. Her father was president of the board of directors at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church when they selected Martin Luther King, Jr. as their new pastor.
George Washington Carver, I was confused when there was nary a projector to be found. After taking our seats, a few students performed a five-minute re-enactment of Rosa Parks George Washington Carver, I was confused when there was refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955. At the end of their production, Mrs. Lacey took the stage, three chairs were placed, and she introduced Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King to a stunned group of 11- and 12-year-old children. Theodora Smiley was born in Montgomery, Alabama and into the civil rights movement. Her mother was a childhood friend of Rosa Parks. Her father was president of the board nary a projector to be found. After taking our seats, a few students performed a five-minute re-enactment of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955. At the end of their production, Mrs. Lacey took the stage, three chairs were placed, and she introduced Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King to a stunned group of 11- and 12-year-old children. Theodora Smiley was born in Montgomery, Alabama and into the civil rights movement. Her mother was a childhood of directors at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church when they se friend of Rosa Parks. Her father was president of the board lected Martin Luther King, Jr. as their new pastor. As Mrs. of directors at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church when they seParks and Mrs. King spoke, worn photos were passed around lected Martin Luther King, Jr. as their new pastor. As Mrs. the room. They were photos of younger, familiar faces. Mrs. Parks and Mrs. King spoke, worn photos were passed around Parks and Mrs. King were easily recognizable, as was Dr. the room. They were photos of younger, familiar faces. Mrs. King. And a younger, even more beautiful Mrs. Lacey was Parks and Mrs. King were easily recognizable, as was Dr. with them. King. And a younger, even more beautiful Mrs. Lacey was Theodora Smiley Lacey was not only a Teaneck teacher, with them. wife, and mother. She and her husband were integral in Theodora Smiley Lacey was not only a Teaneck teacher, Teaneck’s claim to fame and what put it on the national wife, and mother. She and her husband were integral in map. The Laceys founded the North East Community OrgaTeaneck’s claim to fame and what put it on the national nization, hosting meetings in their home. The group feared map. The Laceys founded the North East Community Orgawhite flight would cause resources to diminish in neighbornization, hosting meetings in their home. The group feared hoods where Black families resided and took action.They white flight would cause resources to diminish in neighborhoods where Black families resided and took action.They
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Mrs. Lacey with three of her four children: (L–R) Clinton, Mikki, Mrs. Theodora Lacey, Mrs. Lacey with three of her four children: and Nanette (L–R) Clinton, Mikki, Mrs. Theodora Lacey, first centralized one middle school for the township’s chil and Nanette dren, and later realized the impact integration could have first centralized one middle school for the township’s chilon younger children, centralizing kindergarten instead. dren, and later realized the impact integration could have Teaneck, NJ was the first town in the United States to volun on younger children, centralizing kindergarten instead. tarily integrate its public schools in 1964. Teaneck, NJ was the first town in the United States to volunOn September 17, 2020 Mrs. Lacey cut the ribbon on the tarily integrate its public schools in 1964. Theodora Smiley Lacey School, the new home of Teaneck’s On September 17, 2020 Mrs. Lacey cut the ribbon on the kindergarten students, who are currently learning remotely. Theodora Smiley Lacey School, the new home of Teaneck’s Due to COVID-19, guests were limited to a minimal number, kindergarten students, who are currently learning remotely. but the people of Teaneck and the Laceys’ friends and fam Due to COVID-19, guests were limited to a minimal number, ily wanted to be part of the celebration and organized a car but the people of Teaneck and the Laceys’ friends and famparade to mark the occasion. As Mrs. Lacey made her way to ily wanted to be part of the celebration and organized a car the school, Teaneck police provided an escort and she waved like the Teaneck royalty she is. The Lacey children: Archie Louis Lacey, Jr./Onaje Salim; Mary (Mikki) Lacey Murphy, Clinton Lacey, III; and Theodora Nanette Lacey are beyond proud of the honor bestowed upon their mother. Nanette exclaimed, “It’s wild! I still can’t believe it!” Theodora Smiley Lacey is the first Black woman to have a school named for her in Teaneck, Bergen County, and possiparade to mark the occasion. As Mrs. Lacey made her way to the school, Teaneck police provided an escort and she waved like the Teaneck royalty she is. The Lacey children: Archie Louis Lacey, Jr./Onaje Salim; Mary (Mikki) Lacey Murphy, Clinton Lacey, III; and Theodora Nanette Lacey are beyond proud of the honor bestowed upon their mother. Nanette exclaimed, “It’s wild! I still can’t believe it!” Theodora Smiley Lacey is the first Black woman to have a school named for her in Teaneck, Bergen County, and possibly the state of New Jersey. She has spent more than 60 years bly the state of New Jersey. She has spent more than 60 years fighting for civil rights and is still impacting and improving fighting for civil rights and is still impacting and improving lives. Congratulations, Mrs. Lacey! lives. Congratulations, Mrs. Lacey!
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thepositivecommunity.com September 2020 Vol. 20 No. 5
The Last WordThe Last WordThe Last Word
BY R.L. WITTERBY R.L. WITTERBY R.L. WITTER
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I’M NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I’M NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I’M NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT I’M ASKING FOR YOU VOTE BUT I’M ASKING FOR YOU VOTE BUT I’M ASKING FOR YOU VOTEBUT I’M ASKING FOR YOU VOTE I t’s September. Usually I’d be reminiscing on a summer of travel adventure. Summer of 2019 I t’s September. Usually I’d be reminiscing on a summer of travel adventure. Summer of 2019 I t’s September. Usually I’d be reminiscing on a summer of travel adventure. Summer of 2019 brought a cruise to Mexico with my brought a cruise to Mexico with my brought a cruise to Mexico with my best friend and a week in Hawaii to best friend and a week in Hawaii to best friend and a week in Hawaii to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthcelebrate my husband’s 50th birthcelebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. In between those two trips were day. In between those two trips were day. In between those two trips were weekend getaways to the mountains weekend getaways to the mountains weekend getaways to the mountains and the beach. Our house is where and the beach. Our house is where and the beach. Our house is where our group frequently gathers, so we our group frequently gathers, so we our group frequently gathers, so we hosted cookouts with family, enjoyed hosted cookouts with family, enjoyed hosted cookouts with family, enjoyed lazy days by the pool with friends, lazy days by the pool with friends, lazy days by the pool with friends, and our niece began staying with us and our niece began staying with us and our niece began staying with us a few days each week to lessen the a few days each week to lessen the a few days each week to lessen the burden of her 100-mile commute burden of her 100-mile commute burden of her 100-mile commute to work. Sunday afternoons meant a ed to cast my vote because George to work. Sunday afternoons meant a ed to cast my vote because George to work. Sunday afternoons meant a ed to cast my vote because George house full of various football jerseys, Floyd and Breonna Taylor can’t cast house full of various football jerseys, Floyd and Breonna Taylor can’t cast house full of various football jerseys, Floyd and Breonna Taylor can’t cast the tastes of wings and nachos and theirs. Neither can my Aunt Carole the tastes of wings and nachos and theirs. Neither can my Aunt Carole the tastes of wings and nachos and theirs. Neither can my Aunt Carole the sounds of hooting and hollering and Uncle Bobby, who didn’t survive the sounds of hooting and hollering and Uncle Bobby, who didn’t survive the sounds of hooting and hollering and Uncle Bobby, who didn’t survive as football season was in full swing. COVID-19. I feel a fire inside me, as football season was in full swing. COVID-19. I feel a fire inside me, as football season was in full swing. COVID-19. I feel a fire inside me,
September 2020 is decidedly difburning to elect people to office who September 2020 is decidedly difburning to elect people to office who September 2020 is decidedly difburning to elect people to office who ferent, as has been most of the year. will repudiate the overt hatred, vioferent, as has been most of the year. will repudiate the overt hatred, vio ferent, as has been most of the year. will repudiate the overt hatred, vioWe canceled all of our travel plans lence, and racism that have become We canceled all of our travel plans lence, and racism that have become We canceled all of our travel plans lence, and racism that have become and haven’t gathered with friends or commonplace today. I look forward and haven’t gathered with friends or commonplace today. I look forward and haven’t gathered with friends or commonplace today. I look forward family beyond a drive-by quick hello to knowing I did my part to right the family beyond a drive-by quick hello to knowing I did my part to right the family beyond a drive-by quick hello to knowing I did my part to right the from a distance. Life just isn’t the ship and try to get things moving tofrom a distance. Life just isn’t the ship and try to get things moving to from a distance. Life just isn’t the ship and try to get things moving tosame without the friends and relaward healing and progress. I am gidsame without the friends and relaward healing and progress. I am gid same without the friends and relaward healing and progress. I am gidtives who used to turn every weekend dy at the thought of banishing bigots tives who used to turn every weekend dy at the thought of banishing bigots tives who used to turn every weekend dy at the thought of banishing bigots into a celebration.into a celebration.into a celebration. and racists back to the dark corners and racists back to the dark corners and racists back to the dark corners
The thing I am most anticipating of society from which they only reThe thing I am most anticipating of society from which they only re The thing I am most anticipating of society from which they only rethis fall is VOTING. November 3rd cently felt emboldened to emerge. I this fall is VOTING. November 3rd cently felt emboldened to emerge. I this fall is VOTING. November 3rd cently felt emboldened to emerge. I cannot get here soon enough as far feel a kinship with the heroes of the cannot get here soon enough as far feel a kinship with the heroes of the cannot get here soon enough as far feel a kinship with the heroes of the as I am concerned. I’m taking the at1960s civil rights movement and all as I am concerned. I’m taking the at1960s civil rights movement and all as I am concerned. I’m taking the at1960s civil rights movement and all titude that I’ve stayed away from oththey gave so I would have the right to titude that I’ve stayed away from oththey gave so I would have the right to titude that I’ve stayed away from oththey gave so I would have the right to ers and been vigilant about my health cast my vote. ers and been vigilant about my health cast my vote. ers and been vigilant about my health cast my vote. and hygiene to carry me through to An African proverb says, “If you and hygiene to carry me through to An African proverb says, “If you and hygiene to carry me through to An African proverb says, “If you Election Day. Election Day. Election Day. want to go fast, go alone. If you want want to go fast, go alone. If you want want to go fast, go alone. If you want
I’ve never been as excited to to go far, go together.” I cannot do I’ve never been as excited to to go far, go together.” I cannot do I’ve never been as excited to to go far, go together.” I cannot do exercise my civic duty as I am this this alone. I know these things won’t exercise my civic duty as I am this this alone. I know these things won’t exercise my civic duty as I am this this alone. I know these things won’t year. I have a score to settle with evhappen overnight. Heck, at this year. I have a score to settle with evhappen overnight. Heck, at this year. I have a score to settle with evhappen overnight. Heck, at this ery person who yelled “ALL LIVES point I can’t even be sure they will ery person who yelled “ALL LIVES point I can’t even be sure they will ery person who yelled “ALL LIVES point I can’t even be sure they will MATTER” in response to my Black happen. But I do know they can only MATTER” in response to my Black happen. But I do know they can only MATTER” in response to my Black happen. But I do know they can only Lives Matter t-shirt, and every perhappen if we go together and VOTE. Lives Matter t-shirt, and every perhappen if we go together and VOTE. Lives Matter t-shirt, and every perhappen if we go together and VOTE. son who refuses to wear a mask in So, mask up and VOTE like our lives son who refuses to wear a mask in So, mask up and VOTE like our lives son who refuses to wear a mask in So, mask up and VOTE like our lives the supermarket or the waiting room depend on it because sadly, many of the supermarket or the waiting room depend on it because sadly, many of the supermarket or the waiting room depend on it because sadly, many of at the doctor’s office. I feel obligatthem do. at the doctor’s office. I feel obligatthem do. at the doctor’s office. I feel obligatthem do.