Climbing the Stairs: A Walk Through Life

By Reginald D. Powell

Reginald D. Powell

Over the last thirty-five years, Reginald Powell has been working with the youth of America. He has seen the troubles and success of teenagers lives. In an effort to combat the rising crime rate, youth gangs, and rapid drug addiction among our youth, Reggie has been working with and speaking to groups of people about the importance of understanding our youth of today.

Reggie has served ten years as a police officer, five years as a juvenile probation officer, four years as a member of the Coachella Valley Gang Task Force, two (2) years as a middle school counselor, fifteen (15) years as a middle school teacher, nine (9) years as an elementary school teacher, and ten (10) years as a youth pastor.

Reggie holds a sociology and social service degree from Oklahoma State University, a criminal justice and psychology degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, a degree in education from California State University, and a masters in education and administration from California State University.

He has spoken for California State Universitys new teachers seminar, for various civic organizations, for the Desert Association of Educational, Technological and Office Professionals, presented workshops to Desert Sands Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District, Palm Springs Unified School District, and Lawndale Unified School District.

Reggie is respected by students and his colleagues alike. He has been recognized as one who encourages others and fosters multicultural awareness and understanding. In1998, Reggie received the Teacher of the Heart Award. In 2003, Reggie was voted Teacher of the Year, Lincoln Elementary School, Desert Sands School District. He is dedicated to the community and his country and has been honored by two of his students in the Whos Who Among Americas Teachers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499006544

Reginald D. Powell

About the Author Reginald D. Powell Over the last thirty-five years, Reginald Powell has been working with the youth of America. He has seen the troubles and success of teenagers’ lives. In an effort to combat the rising crime rate, youth gangs, and rapid drug addiction among our youth, Reggie has been working with and speaking to groups of people about the importance of understanding our youth of today. Reggie has served ten years as a police officer, five years as a juvenile probation officer, four years as a member of the Coachella Valley Gang Task Force, two (2) years as a middle school counselor, fifteen (15) years as a middle school teacher, nine (9) years as an elementary school teacher, and ten (10) years as a youth pastor. Reggie holds a sociology and social service degree from Oklahoma State University, a criminal justice and psychology degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, a degree in education from California State University, and a master’s in education and administration from California State University. He has spoken for California State University’s new teachers’ seminar, for various civic organizations, for the Desert Association of Educational, Technological and Office Professionals, presented workshops to Desert Sands Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District, Palm Springs Unified School District, and Lawndale Unified School District. Reggie is respected by students and his colleagues alike. He has been recognized as one who encourages others and fosters multicultural awareness and understanding. In1998, Reggie received the Teacher of the Heart Award. In 2003, Reggie was voted Teacher of the Year, Lincoln Elementary School, Desert Sands School District. He is dedicated to the community and his country and has been honored by two of his students in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

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Copyright © 2014 by Reginald D. Powell.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014907446

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4990-0656-8

                Softcover         978-1-4990-0664-3

                eBook              978-1-4990-0654-4

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Rev. date: 04/21/2014

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CONTENTS

Preface

SECTION ONE: EARLY LIFE

Almost Christmas

His Eyes

A Drink Of Water

Simsboro Evening

New Home

SECTION TWO: ADULT LIFE

From The Heart

New Beginning

Climbing The Stairs

PREFACE

T HROUGH THIS BOOK, you will have a chance to relive parts of my life and learn about the culture of a large black family in the South during the 1950s and 1960s. As you follow my life, both in story and poetry, I hope you will enjoy and learn some of the ways one can overcome even the worst problems in life. Read for the enjoyment; however, take the information and apply it to your life. Work the formula, really begin to live, and may God forever keep and bless you.

Reginald D. Powell

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

I T WAS THE last day of November 1949, and Mr. Powell was walking around the house looking for a rake.

Where is that rake? he asked his son Fred. Didn’t I always tell you to put things back where I tell you?

It is hanging on the left side of the smokehouse, Dad, he replied.

The smokehouse is the place where every November, the men of the community would all come together and store the meat from the hog-killing.

Hog-killing time was always something special to the children. Each man would raise two to three hogs for meat through the winter. Usually, the hogs were all kept in the same place and cared for by all the men. During the Thanksgiving holidays, the men would get together and butcher these hogs. First, they would stab the hog in the throat and let all the blood drain. Next, they would dip each hog in boiling water to make it easier to scrape off the hair from the skin. Then came the grueling task of cleaning the inside and, man, what a job. This would last from early sunup until late into the night and sometimes even until the next morning. What made it so great for the children was that they would have a chance to cook pig skin and make what was known as crackling or pork skins, as they are now called.

After all the hard work of cutting, cleaning, and storage of the meat by the men, the women would take the meat, set it aside, and grind it up to make sausage. This was a big job for them. They had to make enough to last the winter for all the families.

This year, Mrs. Powell was not as involved as she would normally be. As had been the case many times before, she was expecting a child, number eight to be exact. Now, the doctor had told her to take it easy for her time was not that far away, and she could possibly be a Christmas mom.

She helped as much as possible while the women talked about their families. Thanksgiving had just passed, and here comes Christmas.

What are you going to do for your children this year? asked Mrs. Lulu. Mrs. Lulu was one of the older ladies that lived in the community and was married to Mr. Walter, who everybody knew.

I don’t know, said Mrs. Powell. Now that I am getting so many, it’s hard to do too much for each one. I’ll probably make each one some kind of winter outfit and get them some jeans and shoes. Edward said that he was going to try to make some kind of toys this year in order that we can save what little money we have to do other things now that we have another baby on the way.

Yes, another baby is an expense that you need to be prepared for, said Mrs. Pruitt. We all know what that costs.

It’s even up in the hundreds now, Mrs. Emma Lee said. Well, you do what you have to do and go on with life and do the best you can do.

Bring me that rake, boy! Mr. Powell shouted.

"Yes sir, I