Several weeks ago, I was returning to Chicago from an extended weekend in historic Richmond, Virginia. Because I waited too late to make airline reservations, I was unable to book a direct flight. So my travel itinerary had me changing planes in Atlanta.
On my return to Chicago, I was in line at the Richmond airport, waiting my turn to check in. A young lady just ahead of me had missed an earlier flight and was inquiring about stand-by status on a later flight to Atlanta. As she finished her check-in process, she turned back to me and asked if she could give me a book. I was a wee bit leery but answered yes.
Betty Davis opened her carry-on bag and retrieved a rather large, coffee-table sized hardcover book and handed it to me. On the cover was a lovely – and quite handsome! – photograph of the late, great soul crooner Marvin Gaye. The title of the book was “America I Am Legends: Rare Moments and Inspiring Words,” with a forward by Tavis Smiley.
“As an African-American woman, I think you will enjoy reading this,” she said.
“I’m sure I will,” I replied and asked what was her association with the book. As it turned out, her company, KayBe, was working with the publisher in event marketing and product display.
I introduced myself and asked if I could call her later to share my thoughts after reading the book. I thanked her again, and we went our separate ways. About an hour later, we spotted each other at the airline gate, neither of us realizing we would be on the same flight.
By the time we landed in Atlanta (her final destination), I had practically finishing reading the book. After a full weekend of partying in Richmond at The Moles’ national convention, my plans were to sleep all the way to Midway, but the book had altered my plans.
As it turned out, “America I Am Legends: Rare Moments and Inspiring Words” is a companion of a national traveling museum exhibition of the same title which addresses the theme of the exhibit, posed by W.E.B. Du Bois: “Would America have been America without her Negro people?”
Between the pages of the book are over 75 exceptional photographs accompanied by penetrating words by legendary African-Americans who portray the vision and/or contribution of each subject.
It is truly a book that I will treasure forever. Since my initial reading, I have gone through it at least five more times – each time enjoying it more than the last time! FYI, the publisher is Smiley Books, and it is distributed by Hay House, Inc.
Yes, blessings come your way when you least expect them.
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