Perseverance — Page 4
4 – the story of al-haj Rashid ahmad american biting my father’s thumb, which was in her mouth. Astonished, I noticed that my father showed no expression. Knowing that he must be in great pain, I rushed over to pry open the woman’s mouth to release my father’s thumb. He simply looked at his thumb without saying a word, but the woman unleashed her wrath on me. She continued to fight and attack me while my father simply stood there, looking at his thumb. Unfortunately, many years at the moth ball manufacturing company exposed my father’s lungs to harmful chemicals and forced him to retire. I do not remember when he retired from that company but I assume it was around the 1950s. He owned his own home and once he retired, he no longer worked anywhere. My father spent the rest of his years resting and relaxing, and talking – something millions of Americans became well acquainted with after the Great Depression. I recall his passing away either late in the 60s or early 70s, and receiving a letter of condolence from the Mayor of East St. Louis. MY MOTHER My mother, Octavia, was approximately one year younger than my father, making her year of birth circa 1904. She and my father met in East St. Louis’ only high school for Blacks, the very one I graduated from, Lincoln High School. Schools were segregated back then and I do not recall a single white student enrolled while I was there. Although I do not know if they were legally married, they lived together as husband and wife, but my mother kept her maiden name. When I was approximately 5 years old, my parents ended