The Importance of Education and Grandmothers

Terrell Starr

One of my heroes is Terrell Starr.

I met Terrell when he was a student at Philander Smith College in Little Rock. He was walking past my church one Sunday on his way to get groceries. As he passed by, a young black man with really cool dreadlocks, I spoke.  I invited him to church, and he came the next Sunday.  We struck up a friendship during his student years, after which he went into the Peace Corps, obtained a double masters, and has been a Fulbright scholar. All this from a kid who grew up in Detroit where it was unlikely he would have such a future.

Terrell has more determination, drive, smarts, and cool than is humanly possible.  I claim him as family.  He always has a place in my home.  As he continues to hunt for a job in this poor market, while living in New York (he’s a real city boy!), he is publishing articles online.

Check out this incredible story of called, How My Illiterate Grandmother Raised an Educated Black Man.

I am humbled by the woman who raised Terrell.  Can anyone have a better witness to her life?