One of the very first dreams that I had as a kid had such an impact that I grew up that day.  Well, should I say I knew that was the day I understood that even a little boy could receive deep grown up awakening.
 
“This day is where you will start your teaching on how to become a good, whole and intelligent man.  No matter what obstacles and adversity come up, I will give you dreams to teach you and to help you understand your way.  I will communicate to you to unfold all your questions.”
 
Thank God He loves me enough to take out time for just me.  Right then I didn’t know that I was so important or thought of.  I watched a lot of TV as a kid and in most of the movies the good–looking men and the heroes were white.  And they would always win and in the end, get the girl.  They were my idols because in my mind they were the winners, and who didn’t want to win?
 
So that one very important, special night (I must have been four or five) I fell asleep and had a dream.  I was one of the leading men, but I looked like Tony Curtis or Rock Hudson; and the dream was fine until I woke up smiling and ran to the mirror.  I was petrified of what I saw.  I cried.  I will never look like Tony Curtis or Rock Hudson, so I will never be the hero; so my dreams will never become a reality.  That’s what TV and America did to a five-year-old kid.
 
But soon after that, without me sharing the dream with anyone, I went to a party the Black Panthers were giving for the kids in the neighborhood.  They gave out comic books of black heroes—like Frederick Douglas was the one I got.  And I read it over and over.
How could he do all those things in such impossible circumstances?  He was just a man like me and wasn’t a movie star.  His heroism was based on strength, persistence and a strong will coupled with faith.
 
I don’t have to be Elvis to be a hero or get the girl.  I have hope through my dream.  I stopped crying and got to work.  I’m still working on it.