Chapter 31-Quiet Storm Rising
Emma continued to drift in and out as she tried to remember some things that she wanted to tell Missy. She remembered how proud she was when Missy went to school that first day. She wanted to go with her that morning because she was concerned about her safety but Tom assured her that would not be necessary nor wise. That evening, Missy set at the table and told Emma all that had happened at school that day. The teacher had asked everyone to talk about their summer vacation and Missy was able to tell a little about living in Washington DC. The other students were interested because many of them had never been outside of Riverside or Mississippi. Emma was relieved and smiled as she thought how well Missy had adjusted to the move to Riverside. Emma did not really care about herself as she could only think of Phillip everyday and how he would have liked living in Riverside. Emma continued to work in the laundry where she was paid by the piece for every article of clothes that she pressed. She was paid 10 cents for each article of clothes.
Emma remembered Missy being eager to go to school and learn as much as she could. Missy read books all of the time and often talked about wanting to be a lawyer. Emma remembered how proud she was of Missy because Missy always had a good report card and always did well in everything that she attempted. Missy was able to join the debate club at school and even though she was Black, the White students all wanted her to be on their team. Missy had gone from one of ten in the first year to more than 100 when she entered high school. While most Black students decided to remain in the Black schools, Blacks were given the opportunity to choose. Things were changing even in Riverside.
Emma remembered how Missy continued to make her so proud even at Church. Missy sang on the youth choir and won every oratorical contest that the Church held. She continued to read various books with more and more emphasis on Black authors. She read books by Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, and Leroy Bennet Jr. That was a time of change for Missy. She had become more and more concerned about racial issues while continuing to do well in school. This change was more evident in Missy as she then began to wear her hair in an Afro. Emma remembered not particularly liking the hair style; it seemed so wild and bushy and not lady like at all; but, she did not object as she knew it was important to Missy. Missy began to use words like “Black Power” as she was following the news around people like Stokely Carmichael and others who were becoming the new fighters in the war for Civil Rights. No longer were they satisfied with the status quo or slow movement. Those young people were seeking immediate and meaningful change. That was exemplified by Tommy Smith who raised his hand in a Black fist to symbolize Black Power during the 1968 Olympics. Missy had even found a newspaper article with the raised fist and had taped it on her mirror at home.
Emma thought of the day when Missy came home to discuss where she wanted to go to college. Emma had planned for the day and had even purchased a college insurance policy for Missy. She had faithfully paid $5 a week into the plan. The insurance man came by the house every Saturday morning and Emma paid the $5 each week in anticipation of being able to pay for Missy to go to college. Emma had no real idea of the actual cost for college but the insurance man had assured her that paying $5 each week would work. He actually suggested that she pay 10 each week but she could not afford that with her pay from the laundry. However it became quite evident that the cost of college was much more than she had anticipated and she would need to find another way to pay for the college education. Missy had done well in school and had even been on the honor roll. While she had received little or no guidance from her high school counselor, she had been applying to colleges for scholarships. She knew that she would not be able to go to Howard which was her first choice so she concentrated on Jackson State and she also made an application for admission and scholarships to University of Mississippi.
During May of the senior year for Missy she began to receive notifications of college admissions and scholarships. She was happy to know that she had been admitted to Jackson State and to Mississippi Valley. Both were Black colleges who readily admitted her and offered some scholarship money. Emma and Missy agreed that she would go to Jackson State. There she would be able to get a scholarship, find a part-time job and with some little money from Emma, Missy would be able to go to college. It would be necessary for Emma to also take out a loan but that she was willing to do so that Missy could get her education.
On the following Sunday, the Church as usual would recognize the graduates from elementary school, jr high school, high school and college. This was the norm for the Church as in most Black Churches education was encouraged as the way to gain respect in the community and a good job. Almost all of the high school seniors were going to go to college with most of them either planning to be a teacher or a preacher. Missy was the only one who had chosen to be a lawyer that was not surprising as she had become more and more vocal in Church.
Tom was now the Chairmen of the Deacon Board and it was his responsibility to make the announcement of the high school graduates, their schools that they would be attending and any scholarships or other awards. The Church also had a small scholarship fund which was used to help students. There were 8 high school graduates that year and seven were going to college and one would enter the military. Tom then proceeded to call each of the names and as usual asked them to come up front so that they could be recognized followed by special prayer. Tom called Missy’s name and along with the others she went up front. Tom then read out the colleges that each would attend along with the list of scholarships that had been given to him by each of their parents. This was followed by a special offering for the students. These funds were to be equally distributed to each for the purchase of personal items that they would need for their first year away from home. Again as was the custom, the monies were counted immediately to be distributed; however, in the tray was an envelope unlike the others. The trustees opened the envelope to look for money but instead only found a letter. The trustee quickly scanned the letter and gave it to Tom after whispering in his ear. Tom then took a minute to read the letter and his mouth dropped in surprise and he shouted a loud Alleluia. The others in the Church then waited to learn what was in the letter that made Tom shout so loudly. Tom then read the letter out loud to the congregation but before he could quite finish a song came up “ Glory Glory Alleluia” for this was the praise song for the Church. The letter simply said the Howard University was awarding a full one year scholarship to Ms Missy and that it would be renewed each year that she maintained the academic standards. Emma remembered crying tears of joy for the first time in so many years and just shouting Amen Amen Amen as everyone around her tried to get to her and hug her. Missy just stood there unable to say anything and just wondering how and why and then she hugged Tom and said “Praise the Lord” and thank you.
Tom again looked at the seal on the letter and knew that it was real for he had received such a seal on his admission letter to Howard and on his degree from Howard and on his Law degree. He then asked the trustees and ushers who had put the envelope in the tray but no one knew or had any idea for all of the envelopes were the same. Some had names on them but most did not. This envelop did not have a name.
Emma woke to call out to Missy and for the first time in a long time, she actually squeezed the hand of Missy. She really did know that Missy was there with her and while she was unable to speak she gently smiled with her eyes. Emma had remembered one of the few happy moments in her life.