Keep Getting Up

Book excerpt: Keep Getting Up is the first book of its kind to be written by a black woman career public servant. Its about her 40-year journey finding her identity and meaning for her life as a youngster and as an adult, and then finding her place on the world stage as an ambitious and talented professional. In her sheltered environment her parents, her school teachers, and the community in which she grew up in Kansas failed to prepare her for the truth of the Black Experience in America. When she stepped out onto the world stage at age 17 ready to make her mark on the world, she crashed into the wall of racial discrimination that shattered her belief system and rocked her self-confidence. A few years later in seeking employment, she discovered institutional racism that circumscribed what she could do, when and how she could do it. These new realities were almost life-threatening. A setback for sure, but for only a period long enough for her to educate herself about what life in America was all about for Blacks, and the time it took to develop carefully crafted strategies to overthrow all racial barriers placed in her path. She triumphed over all obstacles to her success along her journey and rose to the top ranks in public service. This book is a must read, particularly for those who are concerned about social justice for all in America.