Columns

First black graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and an In- dian Wars army officer, Henry Ossian Flip per, eldest son of Festus and Isabella Flipper, was born a slave on March 21, 1856, in Thomasville, Georgia. He was a mulatto and possessed some Cherokee ancestry.

Veterans Day is a time to pay respect to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans. This holiday started as a day to re- flect upon the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and what was originally called Armistice Day.

“I hate this, I don’t want to have to go thru this!” Don’t blame you for feeling that. But sometimes, maybe you need ‘this’. Maybe, it’s going to prepare you for something that is coming your way, years from now. Or just maybe, it is to shape you into becoming a better person.

Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org.

No other state or place has such a rich and profound story as that of the Buffalo Soldier history in Oklahoma. Black Americans fought in every war in which the United States engaged, including the Revolutionary War. They fought for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts. “One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me,” said one boy.

I was in a meeting at my church last Sunday and the topic came up of how do we handle another Covidlike outbreak? Well, perhaps we should just presume that Covid never went away and go from there. A new variant was noted in September sweeping across Singapore.

Growing up in a large family, with very little income, usually doesn’t create a kid who is spoiled by having all the finer things in life. In fact, sometimes it can mean that a child lives without having some of the physical essentials of living – food, water and shelter.

WOKEA state of awareness achieved only by those dumb enough to find injustice in everything—except their own behavior.

You don't have to be a Bill Gatestype millionaire to have a more valuable commodity: Common sense. How ‘bout these observations?1. Life is not fair.Get used to it. 2. The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.3.