There was one day, when I was twenty-two, that I will never forget. There were three things that happened that would stay with me for life.

We had a good tobacco crop that year. And Big Mama wanted to buy some extra land with our profits. I suggested that we go to Baltimore where we could get a better price. Big Mama thought that the trip would be too dangerous. But I was headstrong and finally convinced her when an older family friend, I called Uncle Ned, agreed to go along with me.

Everyone was excited that day when we started the trip.