In 1983 I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A few days before graduation I went to the barber shop to get a haircut. My barber Ray introduced me to an elderly black man whose name I can not recall. My conversation with him I will remember for the remainder of my life. 

When Ray told the elderly man that I was graduating from law school in a few days he was very impressed. He looked me dead in the eye and said “well son now that you are graduating from law school, “where is your white woman and your Cadillac to ride her around in?” I could not believe my ears. He then proceeded to tell me “ seriously son whatever you do from now on make sure you find you some good white folks!” 

To my amazement the elderly black man’s serious words became prophetic! I arrived in Alabama after I received my second law degree in taxation a year later from Boston University School of Law, one of the top law schools in the world. My success in Alabama did not come into reality until I met some “good white folks”. There were some good black folks along the way, Dr. A.G. Gaston, my first boss, Senator Hank Sanders and his wife Rose whom I resided with for a period of time. Rose’s sister, my second boss Carolyn Gaines-Varner, and present Parole Board Chairman Sidney T. Williams, but the icing on the cake came when I was anointed by a few good white folks. 

If you are black in Alabama it doesn’t matter how qualified you may be, you need white approval! Once you receive white approval you still have to continue to prove yourself everyday. In Alabama we are at least a hundred years behind the rest of America. If good white folks do not anoint you you can hang it up! There may be a few successful blacks that will disagree with me, but the majority if they are truthful will agree. Every successful black person in Alabama has at least one good white friend! 

The good white folks that I call the icing on my cake were, former Governor Don Siegleman, former Parole Board Chair, Gladys Riddle, Attorney General Troy King, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William Holcombe Pryor, Prison Commissioner Richard Allen and the many white bankers that treat me fairly and continue to loan me money to invest in real estate. If it were not for good white folks I would have not been able to succeed in Alabama. The elderly black man was correct. I was watching television a few weeks ago when I heard talk show host Oprah Wynfrey say that she was told by her grandmother to “learn how to sew and find some good white folks!” 

My purpose for sharing this story is to let young black kids know that in Alabama there are good white folks that have risen above racism. I have met many wonderful white folks in Alabama that are willing to look past race and help you. “Find you some good white folks!

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!”

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com