CR1

Dear Ms. Jefferson,
I noticed that when you first came to Chicago from Mississippi that you felt like you were young, free, and ignorant. I recall my mother feeling the same way when she came to Chicago from Georgia. She often told me when I was young that everyone just kind of blended in there. However, I never thought much about it because I never grew up there. I just know how Chicago and its residents are. It seems the city’s racial groups sometimes can be isolated and disconnected from each other. I also agree with you about teaching children about accomplishment. I have children and I want them to understand that they should not always depend on someone to give them handouts like food or money. Hopefully, at some point, they will have understood the values of how to make a living.
You mentioned that a lot of women are on ADC so they can be kept from getting hired. I don’t necessarily agree with you on this. I feel some women are on ADC because of lack of male involvement. For example, if women have children by men that are not involved, they will naturally need some sort help financially if they don’t have the time to look for work. What if they are just unlucky in finding a job because of lack of experience or education? I can not necessarily relate to being poor but I applaud you for making the most of bad situation. I see you find ways to get the most value out of your spending and you always seem upbeat. That’s incredible.
It’s interesting in that I am sometimes confronted about reading books around people, too. I can identify with you about people being shocked when they see African Americans reading certain types and titles of books. Is it that we are not supposed to be able to read and other groups are? It’s kind of like cultural imperialism.
I was sad to hear about everything concerning Melvin and your daughter. I feel all boys growing up need male involvement. Mothers and female voices can only do so much in raising boys. Boys will naturally look at adult men as role models and will pattern themselves after them. Without that, they just pick up fragments of men or women. This could be why Melvin has performed poorly at school. I agree with you though that schools could help more with supporting their students. More education about men and women relationships would be a good start. And I hope Melvin will be ok after moving to Selma. As for your daughter, I am just sorry to hear her marriage didn’t work out and but is going to have a baby. I also hope she finishes college like I am attempting to do. A degree is so important today just to have the opportunity to get a job or expand a career.
Well, good luck in the future and let us know how everything works out with you, Melvin, and your daughter.

Sincerely,
Jerry Thorpe