[Oe List ...] Black Academy

[Jack Gilles]

Dawn,

I thought you would like to hear a response to your experience of the BA. We held one in Cleveland as well. The Metro Cadre recruited it as we had some great black women and a few men in it. They invited other church people, but the group that signed up included others, a total of around 50. As Larry Ward got up and started, a man stood up, and slowly walked out. Then as he began again another. This happened four times. I and another white person were sitting in the back as observers. I caught a “raised eyebrow” signal from the second teacher and we two got up quietly and left. We listened and watched for either an explosion of noise from within or others coming out. No more left and it proceeded.

You might like to know I told George West of your mentioning him. He is very weak and feeble now and has people spend the night with him and a person who comes and cooks/cleans for him during the day. He can no longer get himself up from bed and has fallen at least four times. Each time he fell he was able to “buzz” me via phone from a dialer hanging around his neck. We now have a person who is there on Sunday’s when he had nobody present during the day. 

But he smiled and recalled you very well. I told him I would write you and let you know that you touched someone and brought a tender memory to his mind. 

Peace,

Jack