INTRODUCTION
HOW MY COMMUNITY HAS NURTURED ME
BY RYAN MASON
Growing up here as a Black girl , I ’ ve always had a different perspective of Madison County . I noticed that none of my teachers looked like me until Mr . Williams at Liberty Christian Middle School and Mrs . Greer-Haynes at Anderson High School . I noticed that up until high school , I was one of the few Black kids in my class . Sometimes I was the only one .
When I was in elementary school at Indiana Christian Academy I saw how the other students would all look at me when we talked about slavery and how kids would compare their tan to my skin when they returned from vacation . It was always noticeable to me when I walked into a leadership meeting or volunteer program that very few classmates looked like me . I noticed everything .
With deep introspection , everything came back to one fact : the lack of representation . As I have grown up in Madison County , I learned that we ’ re working toward positive change and representation of diversity , but it isn ’ t always easily seen .
My entire life , I was referred to as the “ Token Black Kid ,” whether at school or gymnastics . After struggling to find safe places to discuss the hardships of growing up Black outside my home , I realized that the answer was right in front of me – my community .
One of the things I truly love about being Black in Madison County is the community of Anderson . I look around me and see the impact the Black community has made on me . It ’ s a place where I have always felt safe . A place where I can discuss the struggles of being a Black girl with another Black girl . I ’ ve always been supported , whether it was educationally or emotionally . I ’ ve always had groups , such as Sista ’ s of Royalty , where I could go to discuss growing into a Black woman , and Project HOPE , where I could go to practice my leadership skills . My first visit to Mrs . Viva ’ s beauty shop , Beautiful Blessings , was made safe because she helped me feel comfortable . It ’ s a pleasure to visit Pastor O ’ Neal ’ s church , Second Baptist , because he is kind and welcoming .
We have the Anderson Black Expo , which puts together its annual weekend Summer Celebration and basketball tournament . It was always a joy going down to Jackson Park to see all the small businesses , the bands and the community . I would see little kids playing tag on the front lawns of nearby homes and older kids watching basketball games . I would see families dancing to the music the band played . You could feel the Black Joy in the air , and it was beautiful .
We have men in our community who mentor young Black men , such as Kenny Moore , who owns Turning Head ’ s Barbershop . He opens his doors to all and is a guide for the young men . We also have Louis Jackson III , who is the founder of The Village , a mentorship program for young men in Anderson . Zaki Ali is a prominent attorney who is not originally from Anderson but is now a part of this community . He supports various organizations and is always pushing us to go beyond the norm and strive for greatness . All of these men work hard to bring the Black community together and to support us .
By connecting with my community , I ’ ve noticed the work of ladies like Ruthie Smith . Although she does not look like me , she is an amazing woman who collaborates with Community Hospital to help make a change . You can always find her teaching people about their health and community programs and services . There ’ s also Vicki Nave , who works with Project HOPE , volunteers at the soup kitchen and
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