‘This Is Your Legacy’

Dear Great Grandfather Booker T. Washington,

In the more than 90 years since you have been gone, your vision is just beginning to be realized. Education has not always been a priority along the way and distractions have often delayed our goals of economic independence. Your guidance and that of role models promoting strength of character have been missed within our communities. That may be changing today however. You demonstrated yourself that "character is power" and today a man of African descent will become the most powerful leader in the world. (Article continued below...)

I was raised upon the principles of your character carried forth by my mother, your granddaughter, Nettie Hancock Washington. She taught me about the pride and perseverance demonstrated to her by the man who raised himself "Up From Slavery." She taught me about the value of dedication that she learned from you after giving your life to education and founding what is now Tuskegee University. She taught me about the compassion that came from your desire to see a downtrodden race of people succeed. (And how proud you would have been to see her marry the great grandson of your hero, Frederick Douglass!)

What we have missed since you've been gone is guidance and discipline. A culture of irresponsibility has left a large percentage of single mothers alone in caring for their children. Even with government assistance or working long hours, single-parent families live in virtual poverty. Our young people are often raised by the rules of the streets succumbing to drugs and violence as a means of survival. Prisons are full of African American youth who have been shown few options and chose the most expedient to their needs. Role models, until now, have mostly glorified negative images of this lifestyle to prove that we are no longer victims but somehow masters of our fate. I believe our fortunes have changed, however, as a new leader has arrived.

Barack Obama gives us hope. Although, he has been embraced by the majority of Americans after his historic run for president and people across the globe have hailed him as the next great world leader, Obama is a special gift to those young African American children who have found options so hard to come by. They will now know that working hard within a system can yield the highest rewards. Parents can take heart that there is a way to escape the cycle of despair. It's a time to believe that dreams can finally come true.

Thank you for being such a strong role model to me.

With all my love and admiration,
Nettie [Nettie Douglass]
Atlanta

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