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Zelma McQueen

5 years ago today my world changed forever. I was sitting in front of my Mac Apple G5 editing a highlight reel for the Maryland little league super bowl game. For me it was the shot heard around the world. Unfortunately, in that moment the bullet felt like it hit me. I remember a thick silence and a loud ringing in my ears. It was probably the sound of denial being unmasked as pain at the sound of hearing my mother had passed away...

Several years removed from that moment, my thoughts are much different about her absence. I focus on the things that I learned from her existence. I've often made reference to one of my first loves being football a sport that she probably hated. Mainly due to the risk of the game, but she cared so much about my dreams and beliefs she took the extra time to support me. I remember my dad being away at work one weekend and she had to put my pads in my game pants. What a day that was. I looked like a replacement player, but she never let me know that she had no clue where to put the pads. That's the kind of person she was. She only believed in success. She pushed us to believe that it was our only option.

I remember when we moved to High Point and she made me fight this bully kid that I knew I couldn't beat. I think she knew it too because she stood there and watched the entire thing unfold. The funny thing is she dared anyone else to jump in, lol. Needless to say I lost the battle that day, but I won the war. That same kid and I fought a few more times and ended up being best friends. I believe she knew that too. Mom was a person that wouldn't settle or take no for an answer. I believe people respected her for it and those that didn't she probably could care less. I find myself carrying on some of those same traditions.

I said all of that so that I can kickoff MLK week and Black History month with my very own Civil Rights Hero, Zelma Althea McQueen. So on her 5th heavenly birthday, mom, I salute you and thank you for everything that you took the time to deposit in me.




Zelma Althea McQueen
1954-2006

Comments

Rahha said…
JJ, Very eloquently written. Your mother loved you unconditionally, may she rest in peace knowing how much you love her!
January 18, 2011 at 3:03 AM
Shan said…
great piece man, this is why i forward your blogs...
January 18, 2011 at 5:08 PM
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