MY SOUTHERN EXPERIENCE

I was born in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1961. I was one of six children, and was taught at an early age to treat everyone with respect and you will likely get it in return. I was told that some people aren’t going to be fair to me because of the color of my skin. However, I was always to treat others the way I wish to be treated.

A source of great pride is that I was raised by the women in my life; my mother, my aunts, and both grandmothers. I learned the importance of being honest, fair, and loyal. As well as treating a woman with respect, love, and sensitivity. The lessons learned from these women has been an invaluable gift.

My most memorable lesson learned, is the value of hard work and to never forget why you go to work. I was about twelve years old and mowed lawns for a Caucasian lady, who lived in a middle class neighborhood. She would not allow me to enter her house to use the bathroom, nor would she give me something to drink when I was thirsty, this puzzled me. I returned home upset and confused. I explained the situation to my grandmother and she posed a question to me. "Why do you do work for this lady?" she asked. I wasn’t sure what she was asking. She then asked, "Why do you go to work?" I replied "To make money." She asked, "Does this lady pay you for your work?" I replied, "Yes." She asked, "Do you feel she pays you a fair amount?" I replied, "Yes." Replying, "That’s why you go to work son. Not to use her bathroom or drink her water." I apply this lesson to my daily life.

My lesson in Tolerance: My mother taught me to be tolerant of others, even if they don’t treat you fair. She made it clear to me she would not allow me and my siblings to become bitter about life and its challenges. I was about 15 years old, attending high school. Everyday after school on my way home, I would exit the rear of the school, walk across the practice football field, down a hill to a winding road, cross, and walk through a bamboo field. I normally would see a red pickup truck traveling on the road behind the school, almost the same time each day. I believed the occupants (three Caucasian guys) were either going to work, or going home. One day, I was walking home as usual, as I began to cross the road, I saw the red pickup truck approaching me. As the pickup truck passed, the passenger spat on me, yelling, "F...ing N...gr." The truck slowed as if the occupants might exit the truck, so I ran through the bamboo field home. I was scared, angry, and upset about what had just happened. I never thought such a thing would happen to me. I entered my home not a moment too soon, thinking my mother might change her views on tolerance, now that an intolerable act just happened to me. My mother anxiously asked, "What’s the matter?" I was still short of breath and needed more time to calm myself. Finally, I regained my composure and explained to my mother what had just happened. My mother said with the same calm voice, "You will not become like them. What they did was wrong, but you will not become like them." I immediately knew then that my mother was sincere about being tolerant. I found comfort knowing she would provide me with the same sound advise, despite the tragic thing that had just occurred. My mothers’ belief in tolerance forever changed my life.

I have a wonderful wife, daughter, and two grandchildren. I’ve been working for the Los Angeles County for about twenty-six years, twenty of them as a Deputy Sheriff. Nine of the twenty-six years as a School Resource Deputy. On my own time I’m a volunteer coach, a Youth Center volunteer, and a liaison for several churches. The reason I chose to be a Facilitator for the Share Tolerance Program, is my life experience enables me to always do the right thing, even when others don’t. I can share with others some of my tribulations and how I didn’t allow them to make me react violently or out of spite. I believe it is imperative for the communities we serve, to see past the uniforms we wear. I want young people especially to see deputies as fellow human beings, who share similar experiences with them. It is my hope that the SHARE program will effect positive change and encourage leadership. My definition of "Success" is: "THE MEASURE OF HAPPINESS ACHIEVED, THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS, AND A PERSON’S WILLINGNESS TO GO OUT ON A LIMB TO HELP OTHERS."

Greg Chatman, Deputy

 

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