A Glimpse of the Story: “Overcoming Adversity: Resetting Goals” by Nelson J. Fowlkes

“In Curryville, I wasn’t aware of racism or discrimination. When I went to Chattanooga, however, I was much older and more observant. I felt I was being treated like someone inferior, like a non-human; racism and discrimination seemed normal for black Americans. Our schools, drinking fountains, parks and recreational facility activities were separate and unequal. Any food I purchased at a restaurant had to be ordered as takeout and picked up at the restaurant’s back door or side window. I learned to adjust and cope with the situation.

Family has always been important to me. Throughout my life, different people in my family have influenced me, making a difference in my value system, my thinking, and the person I became. When I returned to Chattanooga, my mother became the central figure in my life, along with my extended family: my paternal grandmother, Sally Fowlkes; Uncle Percy, my father’s brother; Aunt Mary; and my cousin Carrie Jefferson. My extended family lived a short walking distance from our house. I would visit them frequently at lunch or dinner, always hopeful I would be asked to share their meal. There was no central heat in their house, but each room had its own fireplace. I was always grateful to sit in front of the fireplace and talk with Grandmother Fowlkes.”

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