They didn’t call it mentoring back when Bruce “Pop-Pop” Johnson, III, was growing up, but that didn’t stop him from benefiting from the culture that was created.
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My name is Bruce Johnson, III, but you can call me Pop-Pop. I was born in North Carolina in 1934 and I’ve seen some things, many things in my life.
I bailed out Rosa Parks once after a rowdy protest in the South; I played basketball with Martin Luther King Jr; I even taught Muhammad Ali how to fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. I sure am proud of my accomplishment, but I didn’t act alone; everything I’ve achieved over the years was a result of what I had been taught by my family and the community.
You see, back in my day, there was no such thing as the word “mentor,” because everyone exhibited those characteristics—you didn’t need a word for it. From your father to your neighbor, everyone in the community was there to protect you and teach your right from wrong. It was expected that the village raised every child—and that expectation became a long-standing tradition for my family.
My grandpa, Bruce Johnson Sr., was born into slavery on a plantation in Wilson, North Carolina. And although his father was sold off when he was 8 years old, grandpa was left with a wealth of wisdom that was expected to be passed down from generation to generation.
Every Saturday, as a young whipper-snapper, my grandpa and I would go fishing. For hours I would listen to the life lessons he learned from his father. I remember him once saying to me: “Now son, life is like fishing, if you really want something you have to wait for it; with all things have patience. The world will not accept you because of your color, but with humility and a heart for serving others, you will get you where you need to go.” At the time I didn’t have a clue as to what he was talking about. Things didn’t click for me until I heard it again from my father, Bruce Johnson, Jr.
In 1911, my father moved from North Carolina to a town in Tulsa, Oklahoma, called Greenwood—also known as “Black Wallstreet.” The area was home to several prominent black businessmen; many of them multimillionaires. While living there my father established a very successful nightclub called the “Boogie Down Boogie Room.” Eventually the business—along with the whole town—burned down during the racial riots of 1921, forcing my father to move back to North Carolina. It didn’t take long, however, for my father to get himself going again and open up another juke joint. He rebuilt his dream and this time it was better than before. He told me his spot is where all upcoming black artists of the day came to showcase their talents.
I know I can be a bit long winded, but I told you this story for a reason: my father learned from that experience and taught me from it as well. He also reaffirmed everything grandpa used to tell me. My dad sat me down one day and said: “Son have patience with life if you want to build something for you and for the footprints that will follow.”
My dad made it clear that the world won’t accept me because of the color of my skin, but assured me that tolerance and being humble will bring out refine my character and that living a life of service is our only point of existence.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: setting up others for success is an obligation—whether you call it mentoring or don’t call it anything at all, like I do. This month—National Mentoring Month—shouldn’t be the only time we bring awareness to the special role mentoring plays in our society. People need mentors every day so why only hype it for a month? I encourage everyone this month and every day moving forward to spend time with a young person in your neighborhood—or even a friend needing guidance—just do your part to serve those looking for encouragement and wisdom.
Happy National Mentoring Month! Celebrate by becoming a mentor today!
In schools and communities, Pop-Pop is played by BMe Leader Alex Peay, Founder of Rising Sons.
**Editors note: Christopher “Flood The Drummer” Norris has curated all of these stories from the mentors in his community for a special a series on mentoring. after the series is complete all of the essays will be made into a book by TechbookOnline.
Note: Are you a black male mentor? Submit your story along with two (2) HD photos to [email protected]. If you’re in the Philadelphia area and you desire to be a mentor or be mentored, join SE PA CARES and Techbook Online on Saturday, Feb 8th, 2014, at 10am at Arcadia University’s Easton Hall, Rm 242, for a special recruiting and celebrating of black male mentors. For more info, including directions please email [email protected].
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Photo: C. Norris