GUEST COMMENTARY
Editor’s note: In recognition of Black History Month, former Taylor Press Publisher and Centex Area Editor Hennington has offered his personal perspective on growing up as an African American in Taylor. He made history as the first person of color to be named as the publisher of the Press.
Did I ever encounter racism? Yes. It was around when I was young, and it is still around today. While my parents told me and my siblings to not see color and that it was OK to be friends with everyone, it wasn’t always reciprocated.
I remember hearing the phrase, “You can be friends with them, just don’t bring them home.” But that was usually from friends who didn’t look like me.
I had friends of all ethnicities. No, I don’t count them, so I don’t know how many Hispanic, Anglo or Black. Even to this day I don’t refer to my friends by racial tones, they are just my friends.
When I see them, I embrace them the same way I do any of my other friends.
Regardless of what I saw growing up Black in Taylor, it hasn’t changed my mind on whom I associate with or call my friend.
Growing up I, along with most other African American children, was told to get out of Taylor once we graduated from high school.
The reason? People said, “There is nothing in Taylor for young Black people.”
The best thing was to leave Taylor, become successful and then come back to visit. This was the path taken by most of the elders in the Black community.
That’s changed. The difference between now and then is that there is much more for young Black people in Taylor today.
As a youth, I saw adults in church, who were more united than they are now, and in the community, who wanted us to do well. They weren’t satisfied with us only doing enough to get by. Although we had the same opportunities as everyone else, they knew we had to work harder to succeed.
Ultimately, the goal was for African American children to grow up, leave Taylor, and if they came back, they had a purpose. I feel like that has been the cycle for generations. When I was a kid, there weren’t many Black people involved in politics, on the school board or heavily engaged in the community.
Don’t get me wrong, there were some, but not many.
While I was at the paper, I realized it was never about leaving Taylor because there wasn’t anything for us, it was about leaving, becoming successful and coming back to provide more opportunities for the next generation.
African American children are still encouraged to leave Taylor when they grow up, but today they are the inspiration and the everlasting building blocks of the future.
Once they leave and return, the cycle begins again. This is how the African American community grows and becomes a bigger part of the Taylor community.
Although I’m not at the Press anymore, I feel like my path is still a part of the cycle. Everything I was able to do while I was at the paper and my current position as a teacher are all a part of the process.
I was inspired and encouraged to go out and succeed, and now it’s my turn to do the same for the next generation.
14
