Martini Musing - God Spare Life
As a tonic for my mental and spiritual exhaustion caused by the “Is Obama Black Enough?” stupidity - I’m working my way through God Spare Life, an autobiography by Dr. Claudia Lynn Thomas. A Vassar, Johns Hopkins and Yale graduate, she was the first African-American woman to become an orthopaedic surgeon. (Cover of Ebony magazine in 1981) Then, after surviving the devastation of Hurricane Hugo, she was diagnosed, at the age of 40, with fatal kidney disease. Even if you aren’t religious, her story should inspire anyone. Surely, if she can persevere, survive and thrive, so can we.
Two inspiration points thus far in my reading:
1. Dr. Thomas’s mother had Dyslexia - which made her all the more determined her children would receive a good education. She worked with them on math and reading even before they began kindergarten. No whining. No excuses!
2. Dr. Thomas graduated from Vassar with honors as a Black Studies major - a program that didn’t exist before she and other students took the hard line (and took over a building. This was in 1969.) They had a lot to overcome. For example, she tells of a black student being told by a language professor “Blacks can’t learn German.”
In a recent interview, Dr. Thomas was asked to recall her Vassar “sit in” experience. She said with conviction, “Fighting for a cause is always worthwhile.” Her mother who played a pivotal role in shaping Claudia said, “Any person who is worth their salt has been in prison for civil disobedience.” Remember, those times were perilous ones for blacks in the South being arrested for their civil rights activities.
Wow! Would that more people, of all colors, had the courage to stand up for what they believe. I can’t help but compare this to the 2004 presidential election when a prominent businesswoman here in Albuquerque said she couldn’t come out publicly for Kerry or even admit she was a Democrat because, “I have Republican customers.” So? I had Republican clients and friends too (still have ‘em.)
I’m really looking forward to the chapters about medical school, since one of my early dreams was to be a cardiovascular surgeon.
Y’all have a great weekend. I’ll be back in business mode on Monday.
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August 20th, 2007 at 6:07 am
Mary - I had never heard of Claudia Lynn Thomas, but it sounds like she’s lived quite a life. I think I’ll take my latest Border’s coupon and see if I can find it. It’s always good to learn about someone with the courage to overcome major obstacles in their life - it helps us overcome the small, personal obstacles or do something that is small-b brave (like admitting that you’re a Democrat. Up here in Boston, the equivalent would no doubt be admitting you’re a Republican.
Thanks for sharing this one.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:55 am
You can thank Yvonne DeVita over at Lipsticking - she told me about Dr. Thomas.
I’m always on the lookout for good news. Amidst all the noise about Brittany, Brangelina, etc. etc. etc. - there are some wonderful, inspiring stories.