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Honoring Our Past by
Taking Responsibility for
Tomorrow
Delivered by Janis F. Kearney at
Malcolm X College
February 25, 2003
Good afternoon. It's truly a pleasure to be here
with you, as you continue your month long
celebration of black history month. I would like to
say thank you, to President Zerrie Campbell, and
the administrators here at Malcolm X, and Chicago
City Colleges, for hosting this lecture, today.
I can't think of a more appropriate place to
talk about the importance of black history month,
than at a college named for Malcolm X. - one of
America's most brilliant leaders…and,
certainly a man who helped change black America for
the better…and, I will touch on that a little
later.
Today marks the fourth in a series of lectures
I'm doing at Chicago City Colleges this
spring…and each time I speak to one of the
colleges I learn more about the important role this
institution plays in this state and this region. I
am greatly impressed by the fact that Chicago City
Colleges has taken a leading role in educating such
a diverse group of students, from so many varied
backgrounds; and, that their philosophy is that a
quality education is a right that every student
deserves, if they come with a desire to learn, and
a commitment to achieve to the best of their
capabilities. I applaud Chicago City Colleges for
their mission and the very important need they are
fulfilling in this state.
And, on that note, let me briefly touch on a
subject that, in one way or another, is effecting
all of us, today. As we move into the 21st century,
this new millennium…America and the world, is
facing tremendous challenges. It began with the
9-11 tragedy; and escalated into our own war on
terrorism…and, now, today, unfortunately - we
stand on the brink of another war… with
Iraq.
So, yes, there are major challenges before us,
and none of us - not even our leaders - can say for
sure what will happen from one day to the
next…but, as someone who tries to be an
eternal optimist, as well as a realist, I see this
as "the best of times and the worst of times." The
September 11 tragedy forced us as individuals, and
as a nation, to reflect upon where we go from
here…what a quality life really means for us;
and what we do, from this point, to leave a better
world for those who come after us.
And, I know, as students, your most pressing
concerns are passing core courses, cramming for
finals, and graduating on time; but, there will
certainly be a role for you to play in this new
world we've inhabited. America will seek a more
well-rounded education, with a better understanding
of the world around us -- not just neighbors who
live next door or down the street, or even in the
next state -- but, the people living half-way
around the world. Our universe is now too small and
too complex for any of us to feel comfortable just
knowing American history. Today, world history is
so much more valuable to us, and hopefully, now, we
will begin teaching it in elementary education.
More will be asked of you to help improve upon
our environment, to increase our quality of life,
and enhance our relationships abroad. and, the more
knowledge you consume here -- whether this is where
your education ends; or, whether you are moving on
to the next institution - the better prepared you
will be to contribute to this new world.
Many of you will take part in shaping this new
world, take part in "fixing" some of the things
that went wrong. And, through all of our efforts,
we will be better prepared mentally, militarily,
and technologically, than we were two years
ago.
Finally, on this point, just as 9-11 must not be
America's excuse for forgetting its promise to all
Americans; or using this time as an opportunity to
ignore individual rights, in the name of fighting
terrorism; black America cannot…must not allow
this new environment to serve as an excuse for us
to forget; to shirk our responsibility to our
communities, to each other -- and, most importantly
to our pasts.
Bluntly speaking, we can't afford to forget. One
wise scribe said: those who fail to remember their
past, are destined to repeat it. we must remember
that those same values that moved our ancestors
from slavery to full citizenship; are time-tested
values, that don't depreciate or change depending
on what else in going on in this world.
Some of the same, questions that were being
asked almost 80 years ago when Dr. Carter G.
Woodson founded black history month -- is still
being asked, today: Is there really a need for
black history month, given the advances of the
black community…and the more important issues
and complexities involving our nation, as a
whole?"
My response is a resounding yes. We are a long
way from resolving the 400 year issue of indentured
servitude and slavery that our ancestors suffered.
America cannot afford to forget, or overlook its
complex history and relationship with the African
American community. We are far from a point where
we can talk about ending lack history month.
Remembering, honoring those hundreds of
thousands of heroes, like Malcolm X, whose
shoulders we now stand on, is what black history
month should be about. And, it's not even close to
a time when we can ask the question of whether it
is yet necessary.
When we talk about honoring our past, we don't
have to reach back 200 years, or even 100 years. We
can look back less than half a century, and find
someone worthy of honoring.
I mentioned earlier that this institute is a
perfect venue to speak about the importance of
black history month, and honoring our past -- given
the man for whom this institution was named. You
can travel anywhere in this country, and utter the
name Malcolm X -- and you will get a response of
recognition. And, now that the truth is finally
catching up with American history; it will likely
be a positive response…particularly from those
who study history.
While it was James Brown who penned the song:
Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud,
Malcolm X surely was one of the people who inspired
such words.
Malcolm, the trailblazer, whose compassion for
his race, and his community impelled him to lead
millions of men and women, toward self-empowerment,
self-love, and recognition of our worth.
I learned about Malcolm X at a very young age,
reading his autobiography at 10 years old. I have
never been haunted by any book as much as I was by
Malcolm X's story - of his childhood, the horrible
death of his father, and the sad demise of his
mother. Here, I thought, was a young boy with so
very much promise -- his brilliance was so evident
even in his very early years -- but, like so many
others; he was victimized by his environment, and
not given adequate guidance by those in a position
to offer it.
Whenever you speak to people about Malcolm X,
you learn that there was a universal feeling that
he had that something special. You could see it in
his eyes, in that electrifying smile. The fire,
that propelled him to act; the compassion, the love
for his people -- and, eventually, for all people.
And, most amazingly, a sensitivity, in such a
strong man, that allowed him to evolve into
something bigger than he thought he could be.
In 1965, at Malcolm's Harlem funeral; the great
actor and civil rights activist Ossie Davis, had
this to say about his friend:
"…there are those who will consider it
their duty, as friends of the negro people, to tell
us to revile him, to flee, even from the presence
of his memory, to save ourselves by writing him out
of the history of our turbulent times...and we will
answer, and say…did you ever talk to brother
Malcolm? Did you ever touch him, or have him smile
at you? Did you ever really listen to him? For if
you did, you would know him…and if you knew
him you would know why we must honor him. In
honoring Malcolm X, we honor the best in ourselves.
However we may have differed with him, or with each
other about him, and his value as a man -- let his
going from us serve only to bring us together,
now… and we will know him for what he was and
is -- a prince - our own black shining prince --
who didn't hesitate to die, because he loved us
so."
So, I'd like to devote this lecture to the
memory of the late Malcolm X -- our black shining
prince. On this 39th anniversary of Malcolm X's
death, and it is only fitting that black historians
can now say that America is becoming more and more
educated on the true Malcolm. Americans know
better, now, what he gave to this community, to
this country, and to the world. So today, we not
only commemorate this great man's contributions to
black history, but to American history - which has
finally determined that great leader should,
indeed, be written into the history books as a
great man, a great leader, an exemplary model for
us all.
But, maybe most important for me is that Malcolm
X's life, his works, his background tells me that
he believed the same things I believe…that
self-love is the foundation of black empowerment,
or the empowerment of any oppressed group or
people. That, before any of us can truthfully
commit to a life of serving others -- we must
embrace ourselves, as individuals, and as a race.
That has been a major struggle within our community
for 400 years -- and, it was Malcolm X who worked
so hard, to change that.
I believe Malcolm X, brilliant even as a child,
must have sensed this truth. But, so often our
realities blur or distort what our hearts and
intellect shows us. It took a life-altering
transformation for Malcolm X to truly see the
light. The history books, the bible and other books
of wisdom tells of amazing transformations that
take place in so many ways, in so many different
places, at so many different points in our lives.
For Malcolm, there was more than one
transformation. Both were equally life-changing.
The first was in the Charleston, Massachusetts
state prison where he studied, then embraced his
Muslim religion…and, where he decided that he
was, indeed, worth loving.
It is my humble opinion that it is the giants of
men, who can look within themselves and see their
weaknesses, and their strengths. And, it is these
men who will take actions, or make changes in
accordance with what he sees inside.
Malcolm X was such a man. One who strived to
stay completely in touch with himself, constantly
pushing to be the best human being he could be; the
best leader for his people that he could possibly
be. It is this kind of humanity that allowed the
metamorphosis we saw in Malcolm in 1959, on his
trip to the Middle East and Africa. What emerged
from that journey was a more enlightened, a more
inclusive Malcolm X to emerge. During that journey,
Malcolm X became, not just a fighter for black
America's social justice; but for all America, and
all the world.
Yet, in the most important ways, Malcolm X would
remain Malcolm X. Even in his transformation, he
never backed down on what was right and just.
Remember his words: Extremism in the defense of
liberty is no vice…moderation in the pursuit
of justice is no virtue.
Because of Malcolm's unwavering courage, little
black girls and boys can look into a mirror and see
beauty, see strength, see an individual deserving
of the same rights as any other citizen of this
world…and, we thank him for that.
Let me briefly talk about a history even closer
to home for me. You see, I could stand here all day
and tell you about people that live in this era, in
this state, even in our communities that deserve
honoring on black history month. And, I know you
can, too. But, I will take these last few minutes,
to tell you about somebody whom I know first hand.
Let me tell you just how I personally benefited
from those heroes of the past, and how very
important heroes in my own past, made all the
difference in my journey from the cotton fields of
Gould, Arkansas, to the halls of the white
house.
My journey is one of the reasons I honor my
past, those heroes and sheroes who sacrificed so
much for us to live in the world we live in today.
And, certainly, the two people I have most to thank
are James and Ethel Kearney, impoverished, but
visionary sharecroppers and parents to 17 children
in the Arkansas delta. I can proudly tell you that
I am a sharecropper's daughter who grew up poor,
and in some people's eyes, in a hopeless existence.
I would not be the person standing before you
today, had it not been for parents who told their
17 children early on in life, that our successes,
or our failures in life, were in our hands. We were
told this very early in life, beginning at seven
years old; the same time we were given a chopping
hoe and a cotton sack to venture into daddy's
cotton field.
Growing up poor, and having your most vivid
memory of your childhood be chopping or picking
cotton… most people find that a harsh
childhood. They find it strange that I would
attribute those memories to everything good that's
happened in my life. Well, I do. And, I'm writing a
memoir to memorialize that time and the experiences
I had growing up in the southeast Arkansas delta as
a sharecropper's daughter.
My story tells of growing up on a sharecropper's
farm -- and the kind of life we lived, and the
lessons we learned, and the values that were
drilled into us -- and, how that kind of upbringing
made the difference between a hopeless situation --
and a situation transformed, thanks to hopes and
dreams. You see, the title of this memoir, is
Cotton Field of Dreams. And, I
attribute a great deal of my successes in life to
those dreams that carried me through the summers
and winters of chopping and picking cotton. Those
long days when I worked, and dreamed about who I
would be, what I would be 10, 20 years from
then.
Out of all the things I learned from my parents,
taking responsibility for my own destiny was the
most important; and the one lesson that has been
the foundation of my journey. It was probably the
most important lesson -- not how to cook, not how
to sew or how to clean house…but, taking
responsibility for my destiny…for my actions,
for my failures and successes.
When people gear in on the hard work that made
up so much of my childhood; my answer is that hard
work was simply a part of our lives… and I now
believe it was one of the most blessed
opportunities God could have given me. Those cotton
fields were lessons within themselves, in how to
take what God offers you, and decide how best to
utilize it; to believe that every day that God
gives us is an opportunity in waiting, and a lesson
in how to look beyond what is in front of you, to
the possibilities on the other side of reality.
As you can plainly see, the hard work didn't
kill me -- instead, it gave me an appreciation for
the simple things in life, an appreciation for
gifts, large and small. But, most importantly,
those days made a huge difference in the Janis
Kearney that could have come out of that
impoverished childhood, and the Janis Kearney you
see here today. I can't begin to list all the
terrible things that could have come out of that
existence, if I hadn't been taught the lesson of
taking responsibility for my own destiny.
Ii have been blessed throughout my life… so
many of my dreams that I offered up to the sky, out
in the cotton fields are now reality. In truth,
there have been so many blessings beyond any dreams
even I could have imagined. But, that's what
happens when you open your heart, your soul and
your mind up to possibilities; when you listen to
that small voice that tells you not to restrict
your life, or your future to just what you see in
front of you.
As a child, I witness and experienced racism and
segregation on a daily basis. I witnessed my
parents' struggles to feed our family, and people
looking down on us because we represented a reality
they were ashamed to admit still existed.
Envision, if you can, the world that I grew up
in. It was a time and place that most of you have
only read about; only seen on television during
black history month. An existence that almost
guaranteed that nothing good would come of me -- or
anyone else in my family. A small southern town,
with less than 2000 people and an environment that
said: If you're black, you're not good enough.
The people of Gould meant it when they told my
family, and people like us: we weren't good enough
to eat in their restaurants -- though our parents
oftentimes, cooked their food; Not good enough to
sit next to their children in school, though our
parents cleaned the schools at night; that my
parents weren't good enough to receive bank loans,
though my parents cotton crops helped keep the bank
in business; that, we weren't good enough to drink
from the same fountain, though our mothers
often-times nursed their children; and, not good
enough to worship together, though we were supposed
to be praying to the same God.
Yet, this message that was meant for my family
and me to internalize, didn't work on the Kearney
family. I can stand here and tell you that James
and Ethel wasn't having it. My parents were
visionaries who refused to allow us to internalize
someone else's view of who we were, or, to destroy
our dreams. They made sure we knew we were good
enough -- no matter that we didn't have material
riches, or money, or the right clothes to wear to
school. They preached that our futures depended on
us, not to people who didn't know our hearts, or
our dreams.
So, thanks to my parents, I learned early on to
ignore those other voices that told me I wasn't
good enough, and instead, listened to that one
small voice inside my heart, and my soul that said,
you are good enough…just take responsibility
for your destiny, and you'll see.
As an adult, I have passed on my parents'
lessons to my own child, and others'. Those lessons
are etched in my mind and my heart. Lessons such
as:
1) Never take anyone else's word about your
worth. your worth is about how you see
yourself…and, that's almost always how others
will see you.
2) Hard work and persistence are key to a
fruitful life. that, work without goals is merely
sustaining yourself; while work, with goals,
building a path toward your destiny;
3 Faith in God -- or whatever you call your
higher power -- makes us whole. Believing in that
power greater than ourselves helps us remember our
humanity; our frailty;
4) Education -- except in very rare occasions -
will always be the necessary foundation for a
successful future; and, that you never stop
learning -- not until you take your last
breaths;
5) And, through example, Ethel and James Kearney
taught me that giving back is just as important as
what we get in life. That, the value of our gifts
are in direct parallel to how we use them, how we
share them, and, how we give back. It was from
these two under-educated visionaries that I learned
to value what's inside a person, not what's
outside… the heart inside that person is what
really matters -- in the end.
My parent's gifts bear fruit for them: they were
blessed to see 16, of their 17 children, not only
graduate from college, but graduate from some of
the finest colleges in the country -- Yale,
Harvard, Stanford, Brown and others. Nine of their
children -- seven boys, and 2 girls - are now
attorneys. Two have served as judges. Two were
aides to the President of the United States.
Because of their consistent teachings that between
God, a solid education and our daring to dream,
there was nothing we couldn't do, we always
believed only the sky was the limit.
My journey, from the cotton fields to the white
house included many turns and stalls. That is where
persistence was so important. Ii never lost hope in
my dreams, in spite of the obstacles. I learned
that hopes and dreams are inseparable. Earlier, I
mentioned that I am an eternal optimist, seeking a
silver lining in every cloud. Well, believe me when
I tell you, there were many obstacles throughout my
life, and I always sought ways to either go around
them, or have the strength to ignore their
existence.
Like every other human being, I was never
perfect…and, more imperfect than I'd like to
admit. I made many mistakes along the way. But,
making mistakes doesn't mean you give up on your
dreams, or turn over your destiny to others. As the
song says so eloquently: A sinner's just a saint
who fell down…you fall down, and you get
up…and, then you start all over again.
And, you never allow life's reality to stand in
your way of achieving your goals. One mentor of
mine described those things we call
problems…those obstacles, as just stones in
the road that we have to find a way to move, or to
get around. There were two such "stones in the
road," that were not of my own making -- Believe
me, those of my own creation are too numerous to
name.
But, one of those stones in the road was my
family's poverty; and the other was segregation
that was so alive during my childhood; cheating
young black children of so many opportunities to
succeed, or to exceed others' expectations.
One very poignant memory that stays in my mind
is of a brick building in the middle of our small
town. It was the city library. And, I think Ii must
have loved books and reading more than anything
else in this world. Our school bus would pass that
brick building every morning on my way to school,
and as much as I dreamed about walking through
those doors, reading all those books sitting on
those shelves, it wasn't happening, back in the
early 60's.
But, even with those obstacles I never became
utterly hopeless. In fact, those stones in the
road, made me more determined to take my destiny in
my own hands, and find a way to realize my dreams
of a life devoted to books, and writing. Because of
those obstacles, my dreams became obsessions, and
a driving force throughout my life.
It was that obsession with books, and for
creative writing, that carried me from the cotton
fields of Gould, to the University of Arkansas
where I gained a journalism degree. It was that
obsession to reach my goal, to someday write my own
stories that took me from a government job as a
public affairs official; to manage a weekly
newspaper, the Arkansas State Press, owned by civil
rights activist Daisy Bates.
In 1993, something happened that had never been
a part of my dream for my future, when Governor
Bill Clinton was elected president of the United
States and I was one of the people asked to join
his administration, in Washington, D.C. As I left
Arkansas, the only home I had ever known; I left my
family, and my friends -- to venture into an
unknown… Washington, D.C., and the white
house.
That was the point in my life, when I realized
that opportunities don't always come in a perfect
box with a pretty, bow on top. Sometimes they come
at an inopportune time; sometimes, in unexpected
places. And, quite often -- at a time when, though
you're ready for these gifts, those around you may
not be.
But, when you've opened your heart and your soul
up to possibilities, these are the kinds of
miracles that happen. More importantly, you've
taken responsibility for your destiny, and that
means that anything is possible. The lesson for me
was: Be ever vigilant, and ever prepared for these
incredible blessings.
So, there I was…literally `just stepping
off a cotton truck," but being shown to my office
in the white house, in 1993. my first stop in D.C.
was in the office of media affairs -- where I
helped coordinate white house news with local,
national and sometimes, international media. My
next stop was the U.S. Small Business
Administration, where I was appointed by the
President to serve as national director of
communications. In that job, I was able to put all
my years of writing, communications and journalism
to good use. I managed a staff of communications
specialists who knew their jobs very well, and had
spent their career practicing how to do it right. I
learned a great deal from the professionals I
worked with, there.
And, then, in 1995 I returned to the white
house. Remember how I said sometimes we are blessed
with realities that seem bigger than anything we
could ever have dreamed? That's exactly what
happened with me, in 1995 when President Clinton
asked me to become a part of his oval office staff,
and to serve as the his personal diarist -- a role
I wouldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams.
To give you a brief glimpse into what that role
entailed, I'll begin by telling you my office was
three doors down from the oval office. Sometimes I
watch the television series, West Wing, and find it
amusing how many small details they get right, and
how many large day to day details they get wrong. I
don't know about anyone else walking through that
white house gate each day, but for the longest I
had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't back in
Gould, asleep and dreaming in a bale of cotton.
So, from 1995-2001, my job on a day to day
basis, was documenting, chronicling the Presidency
of William Jefferson Clinton -- one of the most
fascinating jobs anyone could ever hold. Not only
because he was such a fascinating leader, but
because it was an amazing time for this country,
and certainly, for African Americans.
I felt extremely blessed with this opportunity
to contribute in my own way. You see, I was very
much aware of my unique opportunity to not only
document American history and Presidential History
in the making -- but African American history, as
well.
I was in a once in a life-time position to
record for future historians, facts about African
American's contribution to the presidency that no
one will be able to erase or distort -- because I
was there, I watched this history in the making,
and more importantly, I documented it for the sake
of history.
Mine has been a wonderful and amazing journey.
It has taken me through incredible paths, and led
me to unspeakable heights. But, guess what…it
began, and it will end with hard work, commitment,
persistence, and my taking responsibility for my
future. My journey, that winding path, brings me
here today, to share my story with you on this
wonderful occasion; and, I believe nothing in life
happens as an accident.
Thank God for that early lesson: that you turn
over your future to others, when you fail to take
responsibility for your own destiny. That lesson
made all the difference in my journey -- the way it
turned out. And, because of that, I owe a great
debt, and I know it will take a lifetime of
writing, of speaking, of advising, of being the
best that I can be -- to adequately pass on the
gifts, afforded me.
And, finally, let me address the subject of
gifts. I'd like to close with this thought about
the value of gifts, and giving back. You see, I
know that I have more than myself to thank for
those dreams that came true. There were my parents
who laid a foundation, and there is an immediate
family, and a supportive husband. There were also
many other forces, so many people before me, that
helped make my dreams a reality. Nothing in this
world happens in a vacuum, or just because we are
such special people.
And, because of that -- I'm a strong believer
that gifts are useless if we do nothing more than
accept them, place them on a shelf and collect
dust. I truly believe that the true value of gifts
are realized when we pass them on, share them with
others. That is how the value of gifts
appreciates.
I believe that's how Malcolm X - our own "black
prince," lived his life; what he must have known as
he gave so much to his community, and this world. For sure,
it's what I know, and how I try to live
my life. Your futures really are in your hands.
It's a scary thought, but it's also an empowering
one. So, take stock in your destiny, and prepare
yourself for a long and wonderful journey…and,
believe…never stop believing that it will end
in success.
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