Thursday, February 24, 2011
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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Black History Month By WILLIAM B. MITCHELL
It’s an honor and privilege to have this opportunity to express positive thoughts about a positive person. “Influenced by a positive attitude” I believe success is a spiritual achievement by way of seeking, but “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. I honored and acknowledged Prof. Henry S. Boyd Sr. as an “all-in-one man,” a Christian, a good father, a family provider, educator and a philanthropist with a free heart in giving. I believe Mr. Boyd was color blind to the human race. He was noted for greeting people with a big smile. It didn’t matter who they were, he had a smile that would prevail in negative circumstances. Prof. Boyd walked just about everywhere he needed to go, facing life’s challenges and encouraging the young and old to never give up. My personal attachment to Mr. Boyd was encouragement - to move forward and don’t dwell on disappointments, to rise above difficult circumstances and achieve success. When I was about 12 years old, I had a newspaper job. The name of the paper was The Jackson Advocate of Jackson and Mr. Boyd sold the Chicago Defender and other newspapers. It was a great challenge for me to sell something. Sometimes, sales were discouraging; then some days I would profit in sales. I would always walk in Mr. Boyd’s pathway, but I was not successful in selling, so one day, I asked Mr. Boyd, “How do you sell so many newspapers? What’s the secret? Is it because you know lots of people or they just know you?” He suggested that we talk about this. He asked me, “Do you like what you are doing?” I answered him, “Yes sir. As long as I’m selling.” He asked me “Do you love people?” I said “Those who buy my paper.” Mr. Boyd told me, “If you want to profit, you must like what you are doing, love and respect people at all times, even if you don’t sell but one paper.” I felt those encouraging words entering my mind, soul and spirit at that moment. Now, 55 years later, it seems like yesterday. That seed of encouragement has manifested into a positive attitude. A person with a positive attitude, Prof. Boyd was my seventh grade history teacher. He didn’t carry that many books to school. I believe he memorized them because he lived how he taught, word for word and person to person. One of the highlights of my life was on Mr. Boyd’s front porch. It happened there, the birth of my musical gift and talents, playing guitars with his two sons, Willie and Don Boyd. How can I forget, giving many thanks to Mrs. Boyd, the dear mother of the talented family, for putting up with that noise that we called soul music? I give all the glory to God for allowing me to show love and appreciation and in Jesus’ name I give thanks to the entire Boyd family for allowing me to express my thoughts of their father in a godly manner. Eternal thanks to Prof. Henry S. Boyd Sr. for his love, works and kindness to all! “Influenced by a positive attitude.” |
       
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