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Retired North Escambia Educator Releases Second Book
May 10, 2009
Former North Escambia educator Mary Alice Thomas has released her second publication, a new collection of poetry called “A Forgotten People”. It follows last year’s release of “Battle of the Soul”, a collection of religious poetry.
“It’s not hard to find inspiration and a need to write when working with young minds,” Thomas claims. “As an educator I found that my students always wanted more than they found in the textbooks. Realizing that they were gifts from God placed in my care for only a short time, I wanted to feed their hunger for knowledge. I took the responsibility to give to them the best of what I had. My students wanted fresh material for programs and celebrations. It took hours of research; yet, those inquisitive minds and searching eyes, with ears willing to listen and learn made me write poems and speeches from biographical historical facts of a forgotten people, a real people to them, so that they could have a stepping stone for history as these students tried to connect. Little did I know that one day this would become a publication that I felt was worthy of sharing.”
Thomas, who has taught at Northview High School, the former Ernest Ward and Century schools and Carver/Century K-8 School, said “I ask that you share with your classmates from my heart to yours: You are not a forgotten people, for you are still an inspiration to me even though time has had its own will and has gotten away from us, and changes for all of us have crept through the earth as the sun awakens each day. Yet, as I meet you on the byways of life, my heart leaps. You are still that part of me that makes life worth living. You inspired me to write this book. It’s for all of us.”
According to Thomas, this publication has been designed to reach back into the subconscious mind to restore the value for all humanity.
“I have chosen people from all walks of life because it has taken Jews, Blacks, Whites, Native Americans, and all other races and experiences to give this country such a rich history. As I began my research for this publication, I ultimately hearkened to the voice within. I began to drink from knowledge that could only come from the intoxication of wisdom,” she said.
Each piece of material included in this selection carries aphorisms giving a general truth about life. The theme of these works is love for humanity and pain for injustice. In Thomas’ book, “A Forgotten People”, the reader will meet those who opened their ears to the cries of the innocent, like a mother identifying the hunger pains of her young when awakened in the night and refusing to let sleep handcuff her to her bed.
Too often the Civil Rights Movement produces a picture of the African American struggle, where the streets are painted in red with blood of color, and police dogs are forcing black power to its knees while listening to the voice of racism seeking a prey in the night; however, my students of the past and I worked hard to prove that the Civil Rights Movement embraced unity for all American life — regardless of race, creed or color. “Perhaps the greatest indication of this acknowledgment of worth in all humanity is the recent presidential election, realizing that my students had a vision built on Christian love that sprung up from a seed that would not die,” Thomas said.
In the book “A Forgotten People”, the reader will meet some who paid the ultimate price, yet we all enjoy the gift that their lives granted to American citizens. Blood, when mixed with sweat and tears and mingled with God-given love, cannot be called black or white, yellow or red. Yet, society fails to realize that a child who hears God’s voice will answer His call, totally oblivious to color. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples because you have love one for another.”
“A Forgotten People” is available for purchase through iuniverse.com by clicking on “Bookstore,” and then typing in the author’s name or book title. It will also be available at a book signing which will be held at Carver Century School in the Media Center on Tuesday, May 12 at 1 p.m. A supplemental question and answer booklet is additionally available for educators by contacting the author at hannahraya@yahoo.com.
Comments
2 Responses to “Retired North Escambia Educator Releases Second Book”
It is good to know that God word stills travels.
Now, this is the kind of attention the North End of the county needs. I hope people like Ms. Thomas know that they are truly appreciated. Acts 10:34 says that God is no respecter of persons. Thank you, Ms. Thomas for reminding us of that fact.