posted on July 10, 2001 11:33:37 AM new
I read an article about this man last year. I was so blown away by his obituary that I had to post it.
George Dawson, Learned to Read at 98, Wrote Book
LOS ANGELES TIMES
He learned his ABCs in only two days, skipped printing the letters and went straight to writing in cursive. He was in a hurry to replace his official "X" with a perfect signature.
A mere four years later he was signing autographs across the country for his first book, the remarkable memoir of a century of hardship without bitterness, "Life Is So Good." George Dawson, who became America's favorite poster child for literacy when he learned to read at 98 and a highly publicized author last year, has died. He was 103.
Dawson, who had been in declining health since a fall in February, died Thursday in his Dallas home.
"To read his vivid account of his experiences," a Los Angeles Times reviewer wrote of Dawson's autobiography, coauthored with Richard Glaubman, "is to come to appreciate how hard-won is his optimistic, yet down-to-earth outlook." The book has been praised for providing a straightforward black man's view of varying and evolving racial attitudes, for illustrating common sense and common decency and for boosting literacy programs.
After its publication, Dawson became a media darling on such national television shows as "Oprah," "Nightline" and "Good Morning America." He was profiled in People magazine and several newspapers.
Born on the family farm near Marshall, Texas, on Jan. 19, 1898, Dawson was the grandson of a slave and worked from age 4. At 12, he was "farmed out," or sent to a far-away white man's farm as a hired hand for $1.50 per month to help his family.
The hard life continued with jobs picking cotton and sugar cane, breaking wild horses, building Mississippi River levees, shoveling dirt into wagons pulled by mules, working on the railroad and building roads. A Dallas resident since 1928, he worked for its Oak Farms Dairy for nearly 25 years.
There was some fun along the way, including a bit of educational roaming, often hobo-style riding the rails.
Learning, he taught his two sons and three daughters, was important regardless of age. But what with working and supporting his natal family and then the one he spawned, Dawson never had the time - or money and opportunity - even to learn to read and write.
In 1996, a literacy volunteer knocked on Dawson's door in a poor area of south Dallas. Told adult education courses were being taught a few blocks away at the old high school, Dawson responded eagerly, "Wait, I'll get my coat." Together, Dawson and "my friend Richard," as Glaubman, who met Dawson as a Washington state school teacher, wrote a moving memoir. It was snapped up by a New York literary agent and then Random House.
I was just reading an editorial this morning about the diminished value that we seem to place on older lives...Deborah Orr states in the editorial,The Hierachy of Modern Tragedies, "The tiny increments by which we measure the progress of a life, finding it less precious as each month goes by, are worrying". George Dawson's life illustrates the potential that is available to us at all ages.
What an absolutely awesome accomplishment and life well lived!!!
posted on July 10, 2001 12:34:01 PM new
Older people are "devalued" for the simple reason they are not in the 18-45 year old consumer economy.
Media and advertisers make the 45+ group invisible because they don't spend money on products, or at least not in the manner that the 18-45 group does. Quickest way for a TV show to be dropped or lose ad revenue is to appeal to the 45+ age group.
It's funny, even the Viagra commercials don't show men that look any older than 45, some look 30.
Corporations are about money, nothing else. And corporations run everything, whether you want to realize it or not.
I can't wait to get my AARP card- at least someone will notice I'm around after age 45.
posted on July 10, 2001 02:40:57 PM new
I know our current educational system has problems, but having had ready access to public education (56-68), I was really startled in the 70-80's to discover how many "adults" could not read or write.
I knew there were lots of people (my parents generation anyway) that had quit school at an early age to help bring in money for the family during the depression. Especially in rural areas such as ours. However, I was surprised to learn how many of that same generation had never even had an opportunity to go to a school at all!
I had the privilidge of meeting two individuals whose "life-stories" were truly amazing, not to mention a bit heart tugging. Neither could read or write anything but their names, and believed it was too late for them to learn.
Our community had a literacy program and I was constantly urging them both to enter it. I was kinda their coach/cheerleader/biggest fan all rolled into one.
Once they took the plunge, they took to it like a duck to water. I was amazed at how fast they learned and as excited about their accomplishments as they were.
Sadly, I lost contact with one of them over the years, but the other one has kept in touch by letter on a regular basis for 18 years! He is now 70!
Few things have brought me such a sense of satisfaction and joy as being there when these men read to me from the newspaper the first time!
They were perfect examples that it is never to late....
posted on July 10, 2001 05:14:56 PM new
I can't wait to get my AARP card- at least someone will notice I'm around after age 45.
Just take time to research their political activities before you give them your money. They have a habit of contributing to political actions they are aware from polling that their members don't support. I find that dishonest.
posted on July 10, 2001 06:58:22 PM new
James, I intended to send you this when it came out in our paper, and it slipped my mind. Thought you might like the story.
posted on July 10, 2001 07:29:49 PM new
Although this poor fellow has been on the school grounds for over 65 years, he has never been taught to read or write. That should be an embarrassment to the school.
Poverty is such hell and it takes my breath away when I read a story such as this one.
posted on July 10, 2001 07:58:15 PM new
And, why does this reporter describe a human being as clean, polished and waxed...as sharp as the grass that he mows...?
posted on July 10, 2001 11:48:31 PM new
Helen, Nothing sad about it. Joe Lee is an extremely adored and loved person. A million people would have taught him to read. I am absolutely certian that there have been a million private offers. He is simply very very happy and content and proud of who he is as he is...and he should be. Every day is a joy to him and he brings joy to every person that he meets.
T
This is a piece of shameful, racist propaganda perpetrated by a bunch of conservative Republicans as an example of "How we treat "our ***racist epithet's***. I could rip this story apart, line by line but that should not be necessary.
Compare the two stories in this thread. The first story, provided by
James, is about overcoming a long life of discrimination and poverty at the age of 98 by learning how to read and going on to help write a book.
The second story, provided by you, is about a long life of overwhelming discrimination and poverty and the unrelenting struggle to raise and provide for children while remaining illiterate on a college campus. For this, there should be NO award for endurance, with a plaque to hang on the wall, in the state of Mississippi.
I feel as strongly about this issue as you do about the end of the world and how that issue will be resolved. And, as an indication of how strongly I feel about discrimination, I would like to say, To hell with all people who contribute to the problem of rasism in America by doing nothing.
posted on July 11, 2001 08:02:54 AM new
I think it said he wore nice looking clean blue jeans. Maybe if you are a grounds keeper it's hard to keep out the grass stains.
I doubt you find many Rebublicans on that campus. It's a liberal college know for it leadership in race relations. It it's a sister college to and was responsible for the start up of the first all black college in the state.
Good grief. DO SOMETHING. The 800 number is at the top of the page, call them and tell them to throw his employee of the ceuntury plaque in the garbage.
I thought it was a wonderful story about a man who has lived a long life of honor and dedication.
T
[ edited by jt on Jul 11, 2001 08:16 AM ]
"I thought it was a wonderful story about a man who has lived a life of honor and didication."
<end quote>
Instead, it is a story of a poor old man who has been and continues to be mistreated by Mississippi racists who are, by writing this story along with the gift of a twenty five dollar plaque, trying to assuage their conscience and failure.
posted on July 11, 2001 10:22:57 AM new
Perhaps it's a matter of if the glass is half empty or half full.
T
I am curious about one thing Helen. What is the problem with a man who has a job, better than most of his peers of equal education, well paid, well received, 401K retirement, insurance, 25 or so paid leave days a year, of giving his entire family the opportunity for free college education, of honoring him for his years of dedication and service? I am sorry, but I can't see any mistreatment in that.
~corrected paid leave
[ edited by jt on Jul 11, 2001 10:36 AM ]
