On my very first day at school, I kept uppermost in my mind what I had been told: "Put that book down-you can't read." Because of that, I was motivated to work hard to learn my lessons and words. And before long I was able to read and write.

In those days the masses of our people need those few who could read and write. They were often called upon to help teach, lead, and help organize within their schools and churches. Many wanted magazines, newspapers and the Bible read to them.

The white people thought that Blacks did not need education. They felt that all we need to know was how to do the chores they had for us to do.

I got a big thrill watching my older brother develop a desire to learn. He saw what learning was doing for me. And I had started helping him learn his letters. He began to realize what it meant to become awakened by knowledge. He decided to attend night school. And traveled ten miles at night until he could read and write all by himself.