#LETSMAKEREADINGTHEGOLDSTANDARD circa 2014 ・・・ A few days ago; a woman approached me at the library stating she was happy to see me. I'm thinking to myself "have I met this lady? where do I know her from?" woman: I know you don't know me; I'm just an old lady from New Orleans, but I am happy to see you! me: [being kind] I am happy to see you too! woman: I need you to help me with something. me: [thinking I wonder where she's going with this help after being so happy to see me and I never met her] How may I help you? woman: I need you to help me understand something. I look at you and I see you may be able to help me reach my grandsons. me: I don't know about that. What kind of help are you seeking? woman: What inspires you to read? me: #Erudition! woman: What is that?! me: Acquiring knowledge from books. woman: I like that! Can you spell it! me: Sure! I'll write it down for you. Look it up, when you get the chance. woman: You know it's truly a blessing seeing you. me: I don't know about that. You're far too kind. woman: I almost wanted to cry when I saw you. You don't know what it means to an old woman like me to see a black male working at the library. me: Thank you! That means a lot to me. This job was on my bucket list. woman: [looks surprised] Smiles; then states "what inspired you to work at a library?" me: You may not understand. Although, I enjoy reading books, to me; every time I read a book, every time I come to the library or a bookstore I'm paying homage to those who dared to read. I salute those who sacrificed for my right to read. I remember the time when people were killed for reading, I silently tell myself knowledge is power. woman: I wish more young people thought like that. I try to get my grandsons to understand, to be ignorant is to enslave yourself. me: I don't know when ignorance became popular. In any country, in any period of time, there has and will be knowledge to be acquired. woman: I'm glad I met you. [she told me her name] me: I'm glad I met you too. [I told her my name] woman: So when are you going to speak to young black men about the power of reading? me: [smiled] I don't know about that. Time teaches everyone. For some it's too late, for some it's better late than never. woman: My heart tells me you are able to do more than you imagine. Don't forget this encounter. You are an inspiration, go out and inspire. -Stevie #librarydiaries / #blackreadersmatter | #scribesandvibes #turnupabook #booksubscriptionboxclubs COMING SOON Stay tuned: http://www.scribesandvibes.com/books-and-more
