Liberation of "A" Black Mind: Autobiography of Calvin Saulsberry

By Calvin Saulsberry

I began part 1 of this book with a condensed version of my autobiography, to give the reader an understanding of my life experience. These experiences brought about many questions as to why, as an African American, I was so restricted in many ways. I’ve spent my entire life trying to find the answer. As a child. I would ask adults ”Why are we so disliked by White people”, and they would just say “It’s because you are Colored”. To me, that was not a legitimate answer. So, I had to search for legitimate answers for myself, that prioritized the rest of my life. I discovered that it is impossible to understand your current status until you can learn your real history. This valet history will never be taught by your oppressor. We have to take it upon ourselves to conduct our own individual studies and research. Our history is so rich and profound that it must be hiddin from us. For, if and when we discover our true and unique history, can we finally be liberated. This liberation will allow us to look within ourselves to bring out our divine and enate abilities to create, innovate, and produce better than any people, in the history of mankind. Not just for the benefit of African descendants, but for the progression of mankind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385002467

Calvin Saulsberry

The readers will get an understanding of the propaganda and ethnocentrism that most African Americans experienced during the Civil Rights Movement in America in the South. Very few African Americans experienced first hand, physical violence from being the first family to integrate a White neighborhood. I’m one of the few who did and others like me had to ask the same question why were we so unacceptable to the White community.

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Copyright © 2023 Mr. Calvin Saulsberry.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 979-8-3850-0247-4 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0246-7 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/18/2023

CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Part 1: Autobiography

Chapter 1Early Childhood

Chapter 2Early Adolescence

Chapter 3Late Adolescence

Chapter 4Detroit

Chapter 5Young Adulthood

Chapter 6Youth Is Waisted On the Young

Chapter 7T. M. Transcendental Meditation

Chapter 8Family Life

Chapter 9Becoming A Teacher and Coach

Chapter 10Becoming an Experienced Teacher

Part 2: The Liberation of A Black Mind

Chapter 11Being Black

Chapter 12Knowing Thy Self is the Greatest Wisdom of All Times

Chapter 13He Who Controls Your Past Controls Your Future

Chapter 14The Thunder of Silence

Chapter 15The Catastrophe of Compromise

Chapter 16No Matter What Condition You Are In It’s Not Over Until You Win

Chapter 17It Takes a Global Effort For Africans to Overcome European Oppression

Chapter 18Back to Black

About The Author

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my Wife, Mary Louise Saulsberry, who I refer to affectionately as Mary Lou. She has been my inspiration since 2006. She is a very spiritual person and always have encouraged me to live closer to God in every aspect of my life. I have always felt motivated to never disappoint her in anything that I do. She has showed me how to do God’s will in my life, something I had never really totally pursued. Together, we have faced many challenges that I alone would have never attempted. It was her desire that we relocated from Memphis to Dallas as she had already courageously relocated from Flint to Memphis when we were married.

After many of my Black History Presentations, people would sometimes ask me Why don’t you write a book?. I never really considered doing it until one day my Wife asked me the same question. At that point I could not get the idea out of my mind. I hope that the inspiration that my Wife has motivated in me, will also inspire and motivate the readers of this book.

INTRODUCTION

I began part 1 of this book with a condensed version of my autobiography, to give the reader an understanding of my life experience. These experiences brought about many questions as to why, as an African American, I was so restricted in many ways. I’ve spent my entire life trying to find the answer. As a child, I would ask adults Why are we so disliked by White people, and they would just say It’s because you are Colored. To me, that was not a legitimate answer. So, I had to search for legitimate answers for myself, that prioritized the rest of my life. I discovered that it is impossible to understand your current status until you can learn your real history. This valet history will never be taught by your oppressor. We have to take it upon ourselves to conduct our own individual studies and research. Our history is so rich and profound that it must be hidden from us. For, if and when we discover our true and unique history, can we finally be liberated. This liberation will allow us to look within ourselves to bring out our divine and enate abilities to create, innovate, and produce better than any people, in the history of mankind. Not just for the benefit of African descendants, but for the progression of mankind.

PART 1

(CHAPTERS 1 – 10)

Autobiography

CHAPTER 1

Early Childhood

I was born on December 7, 1953 in Memphis Tennessee. The same day of the month that my father and aunt, who were twins, were born on. The same month and day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. The exact day, month, and year (December 7 th 1953) the petition for the Brown v. Board of Education was submitted by the NAACP to the U.S. Supreme Court. My mother was living in Horn Lake Mississippi at the time I was born. I will expose you to the racial climate in Northern Mississippi and Western Tennessee, as you will see, throughout this book.

When I was born, my Mother lived with my grandparents on a farm in North-West Mississippi, owned, worked and operated by my maternal grandparents. My father had moved to Detroit before I was born, but not before I was conceived. My father was separated from his wife when he met my mother, who happened to be his sister’s husband’s sister. And, my father was my mother’s brother’s wife’s brother. This made my aunt and uncle, who had moved to Detroit before I was born, both my blood relatives.

I was my mother’s first- born child, that came after her first marriage that ended after 7 years. During the 7 - year marriage, my mother was unable to conceive. She was convinced that she was barren and could not reproduce. When she discovered she was pregnant, after dating my father for a short time, she was elated to say the least. She was 28 years old.

My mother was a beautiful, light complexion, slender, well- shaped lady. But she had only an eighth-grade education, which was the norm during that time in rural Mississippi for Blacks. The school she attended was a one room shack with one teacher, teaching