Many Broken Promises and Yet I Stand!!

Book excerpt: Henry W Cabarrus, Jr's formative years occurred during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. A young black male seeking self-identity through family and work, Henry struggled to find himself amidst the surrounding social cacophony. In 1954, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation in US schools was unconstitutional. The decision kicked off a massive resistance movement in Virginia, where Henry's family lived. In response to the resistance, it was ruled that operation of public schools was a local option for the state's counties and cities, and no provision was made for educating the county's black children. With no education, prospects, or family support, Henry found himself saved from a near suicide attempt. He left Virginia in pursuit of a formal education and his place in the world. College was a struggle, but Henry prevailed, graduating with a 4.0 GPA from Saint Paul's College. Henry's memoir, Many Broken Promises and Yet I Stand!, is part history, part relationships, and part social commentary.