Today I want to pay homage to Elmon Myers, my uncle, who turns 100 years old today.
To My Dear Uncle Elmon,
Happy Birthday! 100 years. You are a walking and talking history book on what it means to be a MAN!!! And not just any man…A BLACK MAN!
You came through the times when you were referred to as: boy, coon, darkie, nigga, colored, Negro, Black and African American. Your eyes have seen more than we will ever know; your ears have heard more than we will ever hear and within the depth of your heart, there are still murmurs of the racism you endured and yet because you were a MAN you kept moving forward and continued to walk with the Father.
I remember you as a young girl. Throwing me over your shoulder as you walked my Mother and I home to make certain we were safe. I recall the gloves in the back of your pants and your work clothes that were a symbol of success as you were the OWNER of your OWN Company AND YOU WERE A SUCCESS. You were a MAN and you kept moving forward and continued to have faith.
I recall having dinner at you and Aunt Lois’ home many times on Sunday and you smoking that cigar, leaned back in your favorite chair as you watched your ball games. Until one matures, you don’t realize what a wonderful time that was and how fortunate I was to be surrounded by strong BLACK MEN. I grew up assuming that all black men were like my Father, Mr. Chaney and you. The men I knew took care of their families, made sure the community was safe, helped out if they saw you were trying to help yourself and the most important of all, had a strong connection to their church.
I thank you for your contribution to me. I thank you for looking out for my Mother; Hazel Marie Duff Reed. I thank you for being the 100 years of representation from the days of Jim Crow to the first Black President. While President Obama may not know you, it is because of the man you were and the man you are that allows him to sit in a chair that a hundred years ago would have been UNTHINKABLE. When you see the President, you are seeing the image of yourself. A BLACK MAN that kept moving forward. President Obama is you Uncle Elmon. He is the President of a country and you were the President of your company.
Actually, you stand HIGHER than President Obama as you were the OWNER of your OWN COMPANY during very hard times and there wasn’t a government or a social media process to help you become a success. Through your faith and work ethic, you did it AND KEPT MOVING FORWARD.
Thank you Uncle Elmon and as I stated at my Mother’s Home Going Service: You have a HUGE DEPOSIT in the BANK OF GOOD and because of all that you have contributed throughout these first 100 years your INHERITANCE IS DEFINATELY GUARANTEED.
I love you. I thank you. I appreciate you.
Happy 100th Birthday!
Until the next time,
Peaceful thoughts,
-Dorothea