This Little Light Of Mine: Addena’s Substack

Welcome to ‘This Little Light of Mine’ Newsletter.

In this issue we feature a conversation with one of the surviving members of “The Little Rock Nine”students from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas,          Minnijean Brown Trickey :  Gender and Social Justice Activist, Writer, Teacher, Mentor: 

I first met Minnijean in person a few weeks ago at the Junior Black Achievement Awards Society (JRBAA) Annual Community Picnic event.  

Last week I wrote to her and asked her if she would consent to have a conversation with me for my Newsletter, and she most graciously accepted.  I am thankful and honoured.

I am a seventh generation Canadian, born in the North End of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.   In my book, Stay Black & Die, I write stories about growing up and experiencing racism and discrimination.  Even as a kid though, I realized that my Canadian experiences and encounters of racism weren’t even close to the degree that Black people were experiencing racism and discrimination in the United States.

I vividly remember watching the broadcasted images on TV of Black people in America, peacefully marching for civil rights, human rights, and racial equality.  In Alabama those men, women, and young students marching and demonstrating were met by a campaign of terror from police units who responded to them marching by beating them with Billy-clubs and whips, and tear gassing them.  Firemen were ordered (by the Commissioner of Public Safety, Bull Conner)to turn their fire hoses full blast on them, and he ordered police attack dogs to be  set on them.  I watched in horror as I heard them scream in pain as the dogs slashed, tore and chewed at their flesh, and the fire hoses tossed them in the air and pinned them to the ground and against buildings. 

I also remember watching the TV news and seeing the magazine coverages of the first nine Black students chosen (because of their excellent grades and attendance) to integrate the previously all white school of Central High  in Little Rock, Arkansas.  They were referred to as, “The Little Rock Nine.”  

One of those Little Rock Nine students who went to school daily, escorted by armed National Guards, facing racist, angry, screaming crowds was Minnijean Brown Tricky. 

Minnijean Brown Trickey and I started our conversation in the park with music playing, kids and Grandkids playing and running around, and people passing by enjoying the beautiful weather, and the musical artists playing that day in Trout Lake Park.   

So … the first part of our conversation is done with my shaky little iPhone through all those conditions.  Here’s the beginning of our conversations:

We talked more about Arkansa’s Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her “educational reforms” and her decision that The department of education reject the teaching and crediting for AP African-American studies courses, saying: “students need to learn the basics: teaching math, reading, and writing, and American History. We cannot perpetuate a lie to our students and push the propaganda and indoctrination of critical race theory. Teaching African American History makes students hate each other and hate America.”

After that I turned my questions and the conversations back to Minnijean’s experiences as a student at Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas. I asked about one teacher, named Huckabee who tried to help her.

Minnijean tells the back story of why the teacher/vice principal, named Elizabeth Huckaby, had to keep the clothes in her office for her. She talks when she was invited on as a guest the Oprah show: “The Little Rock Nine Come Face -To- Face With Their Tormentors” . On that Oprah show a few of the bullies and tormentors from Central High came on the show and apologized to seven of the Little Rock Nine members ….. so this is the real background story behind the chili incident and why Minnijean got suspended.

The difference in disclosures: Parents protecting children and children protecting their parents:

I asked Minnijean about what the students parents thought about what was going on with them when they attended school. I asked her, What were your parents doing ? What were they advising you to do when you were in school?

Minnijean explained: “First of all, those were different times, and there wasn’t the same kind of disclosures as there are these days between parents and their children. The parents didn’t talk about “ their stuff” or what they were going through. (For example, her father lost his business, that was typical [because of racism] but it wasn’t discussed with the children”) “They didn’t express how afraid they were. By the same token we students never told our parents what was going on. We realized much later in our lives that none of us told our parents. Now everything is about disclosure. You talk everything. We didn’t do that. We didn’t know anything. we just had know that we have different types of parents of knowing.

The other thing to know , that is very important , is that we each made this decision on our own without any parental or any kind of any guidance. We just knew that we each had to go.

So later in life, when anything came along, my parents would say: “she made the choice to do this. She’ll make these other choices in her life.” My father was saying “she’s confident. “ she can decide”. So they admired the fact we did this on our own and treated us like that. One of our lawyers was Thurgood Marshall, and he treated us with great respect and told us what was going in the courts, because we had to go to court and all that. So the idea.. I think … we were examples of young people who have the currency to make decisions for themselves, and we have to stop treating youth like they’re dumb or stupid or they can’t do that too.”

I started out by introducing Minnijean Brown Trickey as a Gender and Social Justice Activist, Writer, Teacher, Mentor, and Motivational Speaker. My last queries to her were about the work she does around the world teaching, mentoring, and empowering people, especially youth to realize their value and full potential.

“ordinary people can do extraordinary things”

Thank To Minnijean Brown Trickey gracing us with your presence. Thank you for sharing your stories and your wisdoms, and your wish that we continue learn our histories and that empowers us to grow, and gives us the courage to move forward.

We wish you joy, happiness, good health, and love galore! 💖💖

🎉🎉. I am still over the moon at announcing that my new Website is Live at:          
                    addenasumterfreitag.com                                                                                                                                 My books, “Stay Black & Die” and “Back In The Days” are now available in both Print and eBook formats.  The eBooks are available at most digital outlets.  Print books can be ordered directly from the Website. 

The books are a mix of memoir, poetry, and stories that take you back into worlds hidden, forgotten, repressed, and denied.  I am truly grateful and humbled at the review comments, like: 

“She challenges literary form in order to bring her stories and characters fully alive, inviting the reader to love them, hate them, identify with, and wonder at them.” 

I have learned it takes a village, so I am asking all of you to help me spread the exciting news. 

 Thanks everyone.   
♥️

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We have all been through some challenging times these past few years due to the Pandemic, and having to stay isolated and separated from our friends and families. Some people are still far away from their families, either by distance, or by estrangement. It causes many of us to feel sad, and lonely, and sometimes depressed. We long for love and comfort we get from the bonds we have with friends and family. I wanted to offer a Poem I wrote as a closing. I hope it gives you comfort.

Family

You can create a family

mold one with love, like soft red clay.

Shape it, smooth it, soothe it, blow on it gently.

You can repair the scars of tragedy,

chip at them faithful, everyday.

Shape them, smooth them, soothe them, blow on them

Gently.

You can re-scribe your history

chisel barricades away.

You can create a family.

Shape it, smooth it, soothe it, blow on it gently.

                                                    ©  Addena Sumter-Freitag

I am honoured to be invited back into your inbox and look forward to sharing my thoughts, new writing, readings, workshops and interviews and conversations with the artists and community movers and shakers that inspire me and I hope inspire you.