Transcending Life's Obstacles
Norma Beasley writes to tell us how the Brown v. Board of Education decision affected her. She earned a BA in art in 1963 from WVU. She went on to receive an MFA from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
As
a young child, I was fortunate to escape the vile epitaphs, police
dogs, and high-pressure water hoses that many of my generation
experienced. In early 1954, the Supreme Court handed down its
momentous decision, and in the fall of that year I became one
of the first black students to attend Morgantown Junior High
School (then located at Spruce and Walnut Streets, subsequently
demolished) and the only one in my homeroom. By 1959 I had graduated
from Morgantown High School and entered WVU as a freshman. In
general, I considered the Court's decision to be a positive one
. . . not realizing the tremendous inner challenge and growth
individuals and this nation would have to endure in order that
we might function more efficiently for the benefit of society.
My decision to attend WVU was quite simple: logistics and financial constraints. Having lost both parents before the age of three, not having brothers or sisters, and my grandparents not being able to send me to an out-of-state college because of limited resources, all contributed to this decision. I learned at an early age to become responsible for myself and make the best of a tough situation. My dream was to acquire a college degree and pursue a career of my choice.
Art and sports were my two main areas of interest. Therefore, my art and physical education professors became my "heroes." The dean of women, now deceased, was instrumental in helping me adjust to campus life. I soon learned from them that race was not a moral issue, and I perceived their personal interest in my success made a big difference. As a result, I "thrived" in this environment and soon learned that concerted efforts toward common goals helped to soften and dispel negative stereotypes that had existed for years. So I became a focused individual and loved learning.
WVU had no blacks in fraternities or sororities, no blacks on staff, no black varsity team members, no socializing to speak of, and no black role models to emulate or address personal and professional concerns I might have had. Even though this environment was uninspiring, it forced me to examine the true nature of individuals—color was insignificant, the human spirit, embracing—the toll on my psyche, immeasurable. Eventually I became captain of the Town Women's Intramural Program for three years while winning a championship to boot!
In Children of the Dream (A Psychology of Black Success), pioneering is defined as the ability to function in an environment where no one has gone before—to be the first or the only one in a particular situation. Adaptability, flexibility, and tapping into one's emotional and spiritual resources are critical if one wishes to bring about sought-after rewards and satisfactions. I might add that patience and fortitude should be added to this list. Possessing a strong will, being mentally tough and disciplined, setting goals and meeting them, being self-reliant, and possessing faith and a spirituality all contributed to my being able to cope and succeed at the University.
In retrospect, one does call upon one's inner resources in large part to transcend challenging life conditions. Even though the battle had been won on one front, I had to immediately address another societal roadblock: how to secure employment in an atmosphere filled with prejudice and racism. My student-teacher professor was instrumental in acting as an intercessory on my behalf, and another battle was won. Corporate America was to present its challenges, but there were those who were very forward thinking and helped pave the way to my success.
I'm a more compassionate person for having endured the experience but I have asked myself many times, what is in the consciousness of humanity that allows us to instigate, perpetuate, and tolerate injustice and suffering of any kind for long periods of time without any (or minimal) resolution. I encourage others to overcome, be as generous as possible, and give back to society in a positive way that enhances everyone.