good morning Jack

tuesday, 15 march

Jack

Amos McClory and Dr. William Barber confer at recent NAACP meeting.

Life intervened this week making Tuesday my Sunday note to you.

love,
  Dad


©  Tom Taylor

coldValentine

good morning Justin

letter to my son
sunday, 13 september


        Justin

Voting rights drew us to the state's capitol

a short while back for a political rally.

             love,
              Dad



©  Tom Taylor

Petitioning Government

Amos McClorey delivers voting rights statement 

before the offices of 

Congressman Richard Hudson.

©  Tom Taylor

Good Morning Jack

Letter to my Son
Sunday, 15 February

Good Morning Jack…

The NAACP held an event at the North Carolina capital, Raleigh.  It was Saturday, Valentine’s Day.  The weather was cold but nothing like what had been predicted.

Our group, the Cabarrus County NAACP, went to the rally by bus.  Some of us slept along the way.

It was a six block walk to the capital building from our rallying point.

People from chapters around the state came to hear their concerns addressed.

Small children were part of the mix and they were tended to.

If you like watching people this was the place to be.

There were a surprising number of different groups that showed up and joined in.

It was a festive occasion – not like dancing in the street, but people were having a good time.

Folks everywhere were taking pictures of each other.  Oh, isn’t the Coal Ash group a colorful lot.  I've just got to have a picture.

The union guys staked out a territory and held to it.

Dr. Barbee, state NAACP head, gave a strong, gospel-infused speech.

It’s good to periodically have people with a common view come together.  We find out who’s who and what’s what.  This year people spoke of issues with gravity but short of alarm.  People were friendly.  It is as if we are all born amiable and good-natured.  Pack up all your cares and woes… sugar’s sweet, so is she.  Valentine’s is a terrible day for a serious political rally.

Love,

          Dad

© Tom Taylor

Good Morning Jack

Letter to my Son
Sunday, 18 January

Basquiat:  Boxer

Good Morning Jack…

During the last campaign I got to know Amos McClorey, head of the Cabarrus County NAACP.  I soon joined up.  Saturday morning was the MLK Prayer Breakfast at Bethel Baptist Church.  Amos sat across from me at a round table that seated six.  At one point Amos asked me what I thought of the event.  I’m afraid my mind went blank.  I could think of only stupid things to say.  After some time waiting for my response he gave up and changed the subject.  Amos mentioned that he and I nearly crossed paths long ago in Vietnam.  We discovered he arrived at Hotel Company, 2^nd Battalion, 7^th Marines just as I was leaving in January, 1969.  I like to think that we had at least once seen each other there. 

Amos was an oh-3-11 – infantry rifleman.  Had he been an oh-3-31 – machine guns, or an oh-3-51 – rockets, his talent would have been wasted.  Platoon leadership was drawn from the 0311s.  These guys called the shots as squad leaders and platoon sergeants.  A machine gun squad leader was an onlooker by comparison, useless as a third tit.  Amos had to become comfortable making decisions in his role in Vietnam and this talent has been with him since.

A portion of a Martin Luther King speech was played at the occasion.  He spoke of the fear he felt early in his career.  Shortly after his first child was born he received a chilling call in the night.  If he and his family were not out of the county within three days they would all be dead.  Fear kept him awake nights.  He also battled with despair.  There was no foreordained course for civil rights.  For Dr. King there was no running from the setbacks and hardships that resulted from mistakes he may have made.  At critical moments during the civil rights campaign he struggled with self-doubt and gloom.  Martin Luther King prevailed over his doubts because he had the courage that comes with conviction.  It’s never just about ability.  Character always plays an important role in the decisions we make.  If we are to prevail over great challenge it is because we believe what we do is true.  Gossips focus only on flaws, ignoring the fact that strength of character is behind every act of making a difference for the better.

Love,

          Dad