My Memorial Day KC Anniversary
Forty years ago during Memorial Day Weekend, in May 1976, I moved from Washington, District of Columbia, to Kansas City, Missouri, to live. I had no job here. I had no home here. I had no wife here. But, it was in Missouri, my home state; and I had very good friends here.
So, I decided, to stay here, even after my friends were all gone, even after a divorce! I said: Let the music play on! Let the party roll on in KC.
I had reached admirable goals in Washington, D.C., having achieved some small degree of celebrity at Howard University, where I had just finished law school and had earlier been the HILLTOP Editor in Chief.
But a series of misadventures had forced me to look away, look away, look away, to Missouri's homeland.
I do not regret my move back home to Missouri. My children were born here. I published my newsletter THE NILE REVIEW here. I taught black history here at UMKC'S Communiversity program, while sponsoring events. I practiced law here, for over 30 years, only ended by a stroke. I confessed The Savior, Jesus Christ here; pastored several churches within 60 miles of here, and I achieved a minor celebrity here, too, while living a good life.
I have had two wives here, both of whom have enriched my life, one for 10 years, the next for 30 years .
As I remember other soldiers on this Memorial Day, I thought it also reasonable to remember myself, on this my arrival day in the barbecue, jazz, now baseball, capital of USA!
Monday, May 30, 2016
MY MEMORIAL DAY KC ANNIVERSARY
My Memorial Day KC Anniversary
Forty years ago during Memorial Day Weekend, in May 1976, I moved from Washington, District of Columbia, to Kansas City, Missouri, to live. I had no job here. I had no home here. I had no wife here. But, it was in Missouri, my home state; and I had very good friends here.
So, I decided, to stay here, even after my friends were all gone, even after a divorce! I said: Let the music play on! Let the party roll on in KC.
I had reached admirable goals in Washington, D.C., having achieved some small degree of celebrity at Howard University, where I had just finished law school and had earlier been the HILLTOP Editor in Chief.
But a series of misadventures had forced me to look away, look away, look away, to Missouri's homeland.
I do not regret my move back home to Missouri. My children were born here. I published my newsletter THE NILE REVIEW here. I taught black history here at UMKC'S Communiversity program, while sponsoring events. I practiced law here, for over 30 years, only ended by a stroke. I confessed The Savior, Jesus Christ here; pastored several churches within 60 miles of here, and I achieved a minor celebrity here, too, while living a good life.
I have had two wives here, both of whom have enriched my life, one for 10 years, the next for 30 years .
As I remember other soldiers on this Memorial Day, I thought it also reasonable to remember myself, on this my arrival day in the barbecue, jazz, now baseball, capital of USA!