To My Dear beloved Father, Mr. Charles Saint Clair Gibson.
When I first wrote my book ( ``The Re-Awakening of the
African Diaspora,’’ some 656 pages.) I spoke lily of you. The relationship we
had as Father and son as I grew up was stormy. But this was only part of the
relationship. I never was able – in my own eyes – to live up to your
expectations. This began to bubble up in me causing anger and consternation.
You had a tendency to shout at me and physical work you valued so much never
held much interests for my creative mind.
What I didn’t
know or appreciate is that what I saw as ill treatment was actually preparing
me to be more independent and able to take care of myself even though I had a disability.
Now, after 39 years of therapy, I have the appreciation for you I should have
had years ago. I can see very clearly
why my church was so disturbed at a 50 plus year-ole- Black man still
complaining about His father. They didn’t tolerate it & helped me heal from
what I perceived of as pain caused by you.
You were a great
provider for your family and now I insist on focusing on the great times we had
when I was growing up such as: eating hoagies from Koch’s while listening to
conservative talk radio WWDB; swimming at French Creek with the Bunches; visiting
Atlantic City for sand and sea long before there was even an idea or a hint of
a casino; washing the light green Volts Wagon bus in Fairmont Park around 1966
with Bruce Bunch and being giddy as we drove home and Bruch and I road on top
of the BUS. I thank you for it all and I LOVe you eternally.
To pay a final
tribute to you he instead of complain, I want to ask my younger Black Brothers
to not be so hard on their Dad’s also. Even if He left you and the rest of the
family before you even got to see Him, did you ever think that perhaps your
being born just as you are is a special gift, no matter HOW you got here? We
don’t always know what GOD’s will is.
You are a gift to this earth. Take it from there and move forward. Have
you ever thought How long it takes to get here to planet earth? It doesn’t take
nine months. Your parents had to get here before you got here and their parents
( your grandparents) had to get here before your parents. You have to take
things back to the origination of man and woman to figure out how much time it takes
to being a human here. We don’t just grow on trees, as far as I know. This is
why I insist that we as humans appreciate human life. It is precious and it
takes a long time to get here and no one is replaceable. This is what I want you to think about when
you want to take up and fight with your brothers and sisters. Take time to cool
down and appreciate who you are. Work methodically towards a given goal; listen
to jazz and cooled out rap instead of letting someone else decide for you what
your temperament will be. Get even when someone makes you angry by reading a
book that helps change the word and your place in it. Call me and I’ll tell you
how to get my abbreviated book list. My number is – 1 – 215 – 823 – 9985. Ask
for GOD ALMIGHTY! Remember you are as
powerful and able to solve your own problems as you feel you are. The thing is
finding out what road to go down to solve these problems and what road to go
down to find the answers. Patience is more than a virtue, it is extremely
important. If you are young, you have time. One thing I noticed is the
multitude of people who helped me that I know of and the other multitude of
people who helped me reach my goals who I don’t even know. When you choose noble
and mighty goals, the help starts to culminate. GOD BLESS YOU.
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