Leaving No One Behind: An African American Family's Story of Achievement Through Education

By Glady's J Hildreth Ph.D. CLFE

Bringing Up the Ones Left Behind: How Education Moved an African American Family from the Fields of Poverty to Living the American Dream will share the following:Good interpersonal family communication being the most important aspect when trying to reach agreements as to how to get the resources to fund college educationHow successful African American families who themselves have used the "bootstrap" philosophy to escape poverty are encouraged to reach back and provide assistance to struggling young studentsExamples and evidence that by earning a college education, one can overcome their poverty statusThe role and importance of the community church, in many ways, when considering college education

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662422805

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Leaving No One Behind

An African American Family's Story of Achievement Through Education

Gladys J Hildreth, Ph.D., CLFE

Copyright © 2020 Gladys J. Hildreth, Ph.D.

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

Cover created by: Bryant Albert

ISBN 978-1-6624-2281-2 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-2280-5 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface: Why I Wrote this Book

Chapter 1

Introduction (Defining Terms—Education, Those Left Behind & Poverty)

Chapter 2

Who Goes to College

Chapter 3

Why a Degree is Important for African Americans

Chapter 4

Where We Came From: Geylon and Minnie Johnson—Our Roots

Chapter 5

Poor Yet Rich: How and Where We Lived

Chapter 6

Seven Achieve the Dream and Pursue Their Careers

Chapter 7

Historically Black Colleges and Their Roles in Educating African Americans

Chapter 8

Social Support and Societal Contributions

Chapter 9

Struggles, Hardships, and Living in Poverty

Chapter 10

The Legacy We Leave: Carrying the Education Torch to the Next Generation

Chapter 11

Recommendations for Helping Others Get to College

Chapter 12

The Role of Family Policy in Impacting Educational Attainment

Chapter 13

What Families, Communities, State, and Government Can Do

Chapter 14

Where We Are Today

Summary

Mother Minnie's favorite sayings

Family Bonding in Challenging Times

References

Dedication

There are so many people to whom I would like to dedicate this book. I will start with my dear and beloved husband, Dr. Eddie Hildreth, Jr., who died on the night of our 62nd wedding anniversary. He was my solid rock. Next in line are our four adult children and six grandchildren who stood by me every moment of his illness. They demonstrated all aspects of solid family relationships. To my parents and siblings who gave me space and showed me how to live a happy and successful life, I make this dedication. To the outstanding professors who made sure that I learned all the ingredients for family wellness, I say thank you. I dedicate this book to the host of students who promised me that they will always help families in need look for brighter and happier days ahead.

Preface

Preface: Why I Wrote this Book

Research and social media are avenues through which information is shared about poverty and the well-being of families and children. African American families are usually described as having difficulties related to aspects of well-being such as income, education, work skills, family relations, child-rearing, and parenting. It is well known that these difficulties exist in many families; however, there is room for improvement in these areas. I believe that there are strategies that can be explored and put into practice that will lead toward reducing some of the problems that exist in families who live in poverty. While state and federal agencies do a fairly good job in helping families live with difficulties, families themselves will need to become more engaged. In referencing internal and external control issues within family dynamics, author Julian Rotter (1975) notes that each and every one of us should be able to, at least to some degree, recognize who is in charge. Do we really feel that we are in charge of our own destiny, or do we believe that forces other than ourselves determine who we are and what we are able to accomplish? We all know that there are social, political, intellectual, and environmental factors that play a role in our successes and failures. However, at the end of the day, it will be our reactions to whatever we are faced with that will determine our self-worth and quality of life.

Families believe that while they enjoy and appreciate assistance from outside sources, they themselves must be responsible and in control of everyday behaviors related to the educational outcomes of their children. One identified resource that has proven to be helpful in eradicating and reducing poverty has been the variable of education. As will be discussed in this book, there are many benefits for families who value education as one way of overcoming aspects of poverty. These families are resilient and resourceful. They appear to be self-challenged and willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure that all their children gain a college education. Families will embrace a pull oneself up by one's bootstrap philosophy which supports the notion that if it is to be, it will be up to me. Literally this means that parents will take the responsibility of solving the everyday challenges and