Janice Bryant Howroyd

We certainly were enriched by what mom and dad were teaching and giving to us.

And we ate better than many wealthy people do now because we were growing food.

We figured out how to grow stuff four seasons out of the year back there in the deep south.

And

I said often publicly, you know, my mama was planting these gardens in her yard long before Michelle planted one at the White House.

And so, you know, I just really thought about life differently sitting in that class.

And that was an epic moment for me that, again, as you mentioned, fed back to the 11th grade.

When I was, and for your listeners who are not familiar with what you're referencing,

My 11th grade year, I was one of the few students who participated in the integration of the schools in my hometown.

And so I was it for the 11th grade.

And it was probably the worst year of my life, aside from the year that people who I've loved have, the years people who I loved have transcended.

But it was worse even than that in ways, because it was the killing of dreams in my soul.

That occurred in that room.

And my dad was so brilliant at building me back up.

And dad had this incredible way.

I think it was a blessing, actually, that he had a gift of not just with me, but in particular me in this moment.

Building a person up from a really low and sad place by painting the picture of their potential and giving them the evidence of how they could move forward.

And that's what he did for me that year.

It was one of the most building years ever.

of my life as a human, and I think it impacted how I look at humanity today.