Notes from a Native Son – Mound Bayou (Part 2) – by Terry Howard

 

pastedGraphic.png

In PART 1, “Near Medgar’s Desk – Mound Bayou,” we chronicled the little- known history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, the first all-Black town in America founded by ex-slaves. The person who arranged to get us there was Bernard Strong who was born and raised in Mound Bayou. In PART 2, Mr. Strong shares more about our recent trip along with his innermost thoughts about growing up in Mound Bayou.

As a native of Mound Bayou, what were a few thoughts that ran through your mind as we approached, spent time in and left Mound Bayou?

As we approached my hometown, many memories competed to hold my attention. Road signs along the way with names such as Clarksdale, Alligator, Winstonville, Duncan, and Shelby reminded me of how many times, while sitting in the back seat of our ’59 Chevrolet Bel Air, I read these same signs over 60 years ago. When we reached Shelby Street, I thought about my mother who taught English and coached the girls’ basketball team at Broad Street High. I thought about a girl on the basketball team named Sadie who taught me how to shoot the hook shot.

When we turned off the main street, we stopped behind a school bus gathering children from Montgomery Elementary School. As we sat there, I thought about Ms. Vivian Fields, my 4th-grade teacher, who loved her students and made learning exciting and fun. I thought about teachers Arvis Hawkins and Ramona Campbell who made me do my best just to compete with the two smartest girls in the world.  

When we crossed over the small bayou (called the grudge ditch), I thought about catching turtles down at the grudge ditch, making bows out of limbs from chinaberry trees, arrows of hollow reeds, and taping soda bottle caps over the end that serve as the guiding arrow. We attached string to a spaghetti box to stow our quiver of arrows. I thought about me, my siblings, my cousins, and the Martin children playing kickball in the front yard almost every day. I thought about all the love, attention and motivation that solidified my self-esteem.

When leaving Mound Bayou, I basked in the delight of having no really bad memories of having grown up there. The only bad ones were when we encountered discrimination when we ventured into the white world of Merigold or Cleveland, Mississippi. I smile while thinking about how fortunate I was to have been raised in such a warm, loving community.

How do you explain why some outsiders say “you must be from Mound Bayou” when interacting with natives of Mound Bayou?

My short answer is that if born and raised in Mound Bayou, well Mound Bayou never leaves you. You see, if you ever get a chance to attend our Founders Day program you will understand the source of pride and confidence that is instilled in young souls. Some may call it indoctrination and maybe it was, but it works. I was one of those young souls who, in fourth grade, stood up straight, head up, spoke with confidence and shared the character, commitment, and quotes expressed by our founder Isaiah T. Montgomery. In Mound Bayou you were never taught to defer to others and not allowed to think you were less than anyone. A thriving Black community was proof of that.

If the reality of Mound Bayou could teach Black folks and America in general one thing, what would that be?  

It would be a lesson on how to work together, prosper and rely on yourself and your people to sustain yourself and provide for your family. Mound Bayou is a case study in the value of educating your own and not relying on others to teach your children. The most important lesson is for Black people to love themselves and respect other people regardless of their status or station in life.

What book has had the greatest impact on you? 

This is the most difficult question you’ve asked me thus far. I’m an avid reader and list these books that have had the greatest impact on my thinking: the Bible, False Assumptions by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Towsend, and “Boys into Men” by Dr. Nancy Boyd Franklin, PhD and A J Franklin.

As you know, by the time this interview is published we will have cast votes for the next president of the United States. How important is this election to you as an African American?

To me, it is the most important one in modern world history and is critical for the progress of those Americans who are non-heterosexual, white, Christian men. This election can make the last turn on the road to becoming a multicultural country with progress for all. In my humble opinion, the ideal of American democracy as we know it is really at stake.

While on the subject of the next election and the emotions surrounding it, what advice would you offer to those whose preferred candidate wins or loses?

On that question, I am not qualified to offer advice to anyone because I’m still working through these two possibilities on my own. But it’s an extremely relevant and anticipatory question we should all ask ourselves since the rest of the world is awaiting an answer to this question… who is America?  

Finally, tell us one other thing about Bernard Strong that the reader may be surprised to know about.

I dream secretly about having a pitch perfect voice and sing like Nat King Cole!

CLICK for Part 1

Editor-in-Chief

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *