When I was a teenager, I went to the only all Black Military School in the world. It was called St.Emma Military Academy. Located along the beautiful James River in Powhatan Virginia, St Emma was a school originally created for runaway slaves in 1863. By the time that I went there, it was a school for kids in crisis.
From everywhere in the United States, and from U.S. territories we came; because for us, our Parents wanted a better life than many of us were being given. Some were victims of crime, some of us created those crimes, and some still, just needed a break from the vagaries of life.
In my case, my Mom was employed at the Bronx District Attorney's Office, and had seen first hand what life could be for little Black boys in New York. She'd seen her fair share of these boys in hand cuffs, arrested for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. For choosing the wrong crowd to hang out with, for not being treated the same as some of our racially different counterparts in school.
The straw that broke the camels back for my Mother came when I was in the 7th grade, and there was transit strike in New York City. During that time I had to live with my Aunt and Uncle for a short period,because I lived too far to be driven with enough time for her to be at work on time.
Anyway, I had a teacher in my last period class who was pretty mean (she will remain nameless...), and one afternoon I had to go to the bathroom badly, but this teacher would not let me leave the room.Subsequently, on the way home I had an accident, and my aunt Jeri was furious with me at first, but when she realized what had truly happened she got even angrier. When talking with my Mother later that night, my Mom just cried and cried, and said that she was going to do something about that.So later on near the end of the year she started looking around for boarding schools.
One afternoon, she was feeling pretty down, and was speaking to one of the elevator operators in the building where she worked, Rosie Brown told her "Carmen, you gotta send that child to St.Emma." When my Mom found out the history of that school, and the success that it had in changing the lives of Black boys to positive ones, off I went.
I didn't fight it, because I believed more in my family than I did in the streets.
Fast forward 4 years...
As each year passed along I noticed more and more changes in me.Yes, it was a serious struggle, but I stuck it out, and I graduated.
On the day of graduation, I was one of the last people to climb aboard the bus bound for New York City, and my words as I entered were...today St.Emma, tomorrow, the world.Fast forward again, this time many, many years, to 2007. My life is supremely blessed, I have the gift of a Wife and home life, I have the cherished gift of tremendous friendships from all walks of life, and all manner of people. One of the things that I cherish the most is that I have the gift of music, and that gift has taken me all over the world, figuratively, and literally.
So, as we pass through into the beginning stages of this new year, I want to wish each of you good luck in your endeavors. With a song in your hearts, step over your threshold, and proclaim...today (fill in your own blank here____________), St Emma, tomorrow, the world.
This post is dedicated to the following: Vickie S.Tuitt, Kendra N.Dunham RN, Marty Adams, The Carpenter Ants,Jimmy and Patsy Julius and family, Angela Sabarese, Amy Bowe, Yvonne Brown, Ahmed Solomon,and Brianne Barton,Tracy Herz, Robbin Thompson, Sherry Pasquarello, Don Dixon, Steve Ferguson, Larry Groce, Kathy Clark, Jennifer Wagner, Joel Ison, Charles and Tammy Loyd, Peggy Triplett, Pam Hacker, Garnett Clark, Rebecca Van der Meer, Mary Savage, Lora Ward, Amy Arey,Terry Lowry, Spurgie and Marty Hankins, Susan L.Cavender MD, Michael Romeo DDS, Kevin and Jennifer Kidd, Rebecca Burch, Quasar, Imam Jamal Daoudi, Samuel Majied, the Islamic Center of West Virginia, Jim Snyder, Tina Coll, Darrell "Homie"Ramsey, April Ritter, Rebecca Burch, Oprah Winfrey, and the New York Yankees.
Each of these people have given my life meaning beyond measure, and love without conditions, and you've enriched the lives of others as well. May Allah continue to bless you, as you grace our world...always
(if you don't see your names here, it doesn't mean that you weren't thought of...)
Support Live music today tomorrow and always.
From everywhere in the United States, and from U.S. territories we came; because for us, our Parents wanted a better life than many of us were being given. Some were victims of crime, some of us created those crimes, and some still, just needed a break from the vagaries of life.
In my case, my Mom was employed at the Bronx District Attorney's Office, and had seen first hand what life could be for little Black boys in New York. She'd seen her fair share of these boys in hand cuffs, arrested for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. For choosing the wrong crowd to hang out with, for not being treated the same as some of our racially different counterparts in school.
The straw that broke the camels back for my Mother came when I was in the 7th grade, and there was transit strike in New York City. During that time I had to live with my Aunt and Uncle for a short period,because I lived too far to be driven with enough time for her to be at work on time.
Anyway, I had a teacher in my last period class who was pretty mean (she will remain nameless...), and one afternoon I had to go to the bathroom badly, but this teacher would not let me leave the room.Subsequently, on the way home I had an accident, and my aunt Jeri was furious with me at first, but when she realized what had truly happened she got even angrier. When talking with my Mother later that night, my Mom just cried and cried, and said that she was going to do something about that.So later on near the end of the year she started looking around for boarding schools.
One afternoon, she was feeling pretty down, and was speaking to one of the elevator operators in the building where she worked, Rosie Brown told her "Carmen, you gotta send that child to St.Emma." When my Mom found out the history of that school, and the success that it had in changing the lives of Black boys to positive ones, off I went.
I didn't fight it, because I believed more in my family than I did in the streets.
Fast forward 4 years...
As each year passed along I noticed more and more changes in me.Yes, it was a serious struggle, but I stuck it out, and I graduated.
On the day of graduation, I was one of the last people to climb aboard the bus bound for New York City, and my words as I entered were...today St.Emma, tomorrow, the world.Fast forward again, this time many, many years, to 2007. My life is supremely blessed, I have the gift of a Wife and home life, I have the cherished gift of tremendous friendships from all walks of life, and all manner of people. One of the things that I cherish the most is that I have the gift of music, and that gift has taken me all over the world, figuratively, and literally.
So, as we pass through into the beginning stages of this new year, I want to wish each of you good luck in your endeavors. With a song in your hearts, step over your threshold, and proclaim...today (fill in your own blank here____________), St Emma, tomorrow, the world.
This post is dedicated to the following: Vickie S.Tuitt, Kendra N.Dunham RN, Marty Adams, The Carpenter Ants,Jimmy and Patsy Julius and family, Angela Sabarese, Amy Bowe, Yvonne Brown, Ahmed Solomon,and Brianne Barton,Tracy Herz, Robbin Thompson, Sherry Pasquarello, Don Dixon, Steve Ferguson, Larry Groce, Kathy Clark, Jennifer Wagner, Joel Ison, Charles and Tammy Loyd, Peggy Triplett, Pam Hacker, Garnett Clark, Rebecca Van der Meer, Mary Savage, Lora Ward, Amy Arey,Terry Lowry, Spurgie and Marty Hankins, Susan L.Cavender MD, Michael Romeo DDS, Kevin and Jennifer Kidd, Rebecca Burch, Quasar, Imam Jamal Daoudi, Samuel Majied, the Islamic Center of West Virginia, Jim Snyder, Tina Coll, Darrell "Homie"Ramsey, April Ritter, Rebecca Burch, Oprah Winfrey, and the New York Yankees.
Each of these people have given my life meaning beyond measure, and love without conditions, and you've enriched the lives of others as well. May Allah continue to bless you, as you grace our world...always
(if you don't see your names here, it doesn't mean that you weren't thought of...)
Support Live music today tomorrow and always.
6 comments:
Wow! Thank you so much, Charlie! You just made my day! Probably my whole week, too!
What a cool and inspiring story! I hope you don't mind if I print it out and keep it in my "inspiration" folder. It's a folder of stories like this that I take out and read when I need to be reminded why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place.
You rule, Charlie Tee From NYC!
ah charlie, thanks so very much! blessings on you and yours! : )
Hi Rebecca, the story is yours, do whatever you wish with it. Enjoy.
Charlie, You may not believe this but my father was a teacher at St. Emma. I am not sure how I even found you post, but it made me feel good to know that he may have made a difference in someones life. He was probably not your favorite...Capt. Coker was his name. I would be intrested in hearing from you. Thank you for such a great story....my e-mail is Tracie.hagy@dom.com if you do ever get a chance to respond. Good luck in everything you do!
Hello Charles,
I was cruising the net and came across your blog, what a small world we live in, I went to St. Emma also. My name is Gary Meade, and, I remember you fairly well, I, believe you were in the band. I was in B company. I remember Fr. Figaro, Mr and Mrs. Cumbo, Capt Coker etc. I am also in touch with a few of the guys. Somebody should right a screenplay about the school. There will never be another place like it.......Gary
Better late than never...
Gary, I remember you very well. Although I was in C company.
If it's not too late please send me an e-mail.My address is tuitt-charles@usa.net.
Take care and thank you for responding.
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