Griffin Speaks

ROOTS AND WINGS

A few days ago as I was driving past Bellingrath Junior High School I saw several policemen. They were searching the area around the school because someone reported that a student had pointed a gun at them. The student then allegedly tossed the gun somewhere on the ground. I saw a few students in the area with sagging pants and new style hair. The moment took me back to my junior high days when I must have looked as ridiculous to the adults of the 70’s as these kids look to the adults of today. I had one of the largest Afros in America. I purchased my 5-inch shoes from Flagg Brothers and my wide leg bell-bottoms from the local K-mart. The difference in me and many of the kids I see today is my parents gave me “Roots and Wings”.  

There are many great parents in Montgomery, but there are some parents that aren’t parenting their kids. They are allowing their kids to raise themselves. Some parents are just plain ignorant. It reminds me of the story of the little boy named Johnny who was sent home because he could not tell the teacher who signed the Declaration of Independence. The parent returned to school with little Johnny. The mother asked the teacher, “what was the problem?” The teacher told the mother that she had asked little Johnny repeatedly “Who signed the Declaration of Independence?” She said that little Johnny would not tell her who signed it. The mother looked at little Johnny and said, “Boy if you signed the darn thing tell her.”   

Hodding Carter once said: “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” As parents we have the responsibility of providing a safe home in which our children can grow, and to ready them for when they will leave that safe home. 

My parents first gave us roots. We knew where we belonged. It was at home where we developed our strength to endure the troubles of the world. It was at home where we learned that no matter how many times you’re knocked down, to get back up and brush yourself off. It was at home where we learned that we could exceed everyone’s expectations, but our own. Our parents provided us with stability and nourishment. The food at home was wonderful. We ate well! 

It was a joy for my two brothers and me to come home from school. We could smell the aroma from our mother’s cooking blocks away. We knew what to expect from our parents. They wanted good behavior and good grades. Our parents treated us like a royalty. We felt like valued members of the family. We were encouraged to be creative. We were given the opportunity to use our imagination. We had a ball  growing up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. 

I witnessed each of my older brothers receive their wings. Napoleon “Pole” received his wings when he left home to attend Elizabeth City State State University. Melvin “Mann” received his wings when he left home to attend Winston Salem State University. I received my wings when I left home to matriculate at Morehouse College. It was at Morehouse that I realized that my parents taught me the skills necessary to be a success in this hard cold world. My self-confidence was at an all time high. I was ready to fly and I flew away! I later flew back and convinced my parents to join me in Alabama. They flew to Alabama and the rest is history! Even though you give your children wings and they fly away, you never lose them if the roots are deep enough. They will always fly back home. So parents tell your kids to pull up those sagging pants. Comb that nappy hair! Who in the hell do you think is going to hire you? Then give your kid a great big hug and tell them how much you love them!

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