106 year-old former slave, El Fondren being celebrated as he registers to vote for the first time in Batesville, Mississippi, 1966. Photo courtesy of Bob Fitch.

— As a little boy I was told a story about a black man who toiled without worry.

— He loved his family. He loved God.

— His faith and commitment never wavered. His life and his struggles were not a façade.

— When push came to shove, he shoved back. Each & everyday he was reminded by the authorities who took an oath to serve him, “Boy get back.”

— He knew who he was and knew where he was going, and it was not in the direction the wind was blowing.

— He sowed good seed and produced fruit after its own kind. Thank God for him I am a man with my own mind.

— His children’s children are preachers, teachers, lawyers, scholars, and men and women of honor. The enemy failed to see he was more than a conqueror.

— His journey truly began in 1966 at the age of 106. With vigor and determination, Great, great Uncle El Fondren, born into slavery, set a chain of events into motion.

— You walked into the Panola County, Mississippi voting office to register to vote, after years and years of being denied. You stood tall, with your head held high, captivated a nation by restoring a people’s civic pride.

— Your life and the lives of others mattered, and you acted. It was your time then. A crisis awaits us. It is our time.

— Stand up, walk up & sign up to vote. We have the power to make changes for ones self and each other.

— Thank you Uncle El for not submitting to hopelessness and despair. No one would have blamed you if you gave in and threw your hands up in the air.

— Yet, you uttered a simple prayer, stepped forward and did not accept being told, “No!”

— Thank you Uncle. I know what I must do.

The knowledge of history is critical to understanding the world. The knowledge of history should foster hope and encourage us to transcend life’s challenges. The knowledge of history, if internalized, can often propel an ordinary person to take action that has the potential to alter the future of the world. The knowledge of history can restore a person and bring reconciliation to a nation. History that is presented out of context or inaccurate is a disservice to everyone. Most importantly, a knowledge of history can inspire and equip every boy and girl to dream. That is what Uncle El’s life did for me and for everyone you knows what he endured to register to vote.

El Fondren’s heroism transcends what is traditionally known as “Black History Month.” Uncle El will never be defined by his age, race or the circumstances of time. His actions on that day will not be limited to a moment in black history. The actions he took that day were the actions of an American who would not be denied his inalienable right. It is an enduring legacy for every American. I am proud to carry it forward and pass it on to others. You should also. It is your history.

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