Student Profiles

Student: Sharon Booth
School: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Major/Minor: English / Education
HECUA Program: Civil Rights Movement: History & Consequences

Who is Sharon Booth?
I grew up in a mixed neighborhood in Pontiac, Michigan made up of Blacks, Hispanics, and Caucasians which allowed me exposure to different cultures at an early age. When I was in the 6th grade our family moved across town to the East Side of Pontiac where we were the first black family in our area. There I attended the junior high that was located  literally next door to my home. When I started the 9th grade the Pontiac School System integrated the schools and I was bused across town to an all white school.

The first few weeks of 9th grade were somewhat a tense time for all of us students, especially those who were not use to going to school where the majority of the students were white. I remember fights breaking out, name calling. We had to have a general assembly in the gym where all students had to come together. After we had this general assembly things started to calm down quite and bit and most of the students started to get along with each other.

This made for an easy transition when I started high school because of my growing up in a mixed neighborhood and starting 9th grade at an all white school. I had developed many friendships with students of other races. High school memories are positive ones: I got good grades, served on several committees, and was even elected to student council. I was part of the Cooperative Education Program whereby a post-school job was arranged for me in the afternoons and mornings. By January of my senior year had enough credits to graduate, but I wanted to participate in graduation ceremonies, so I continued by only taking one class which allowed me more time to work in the Cooperative Education Program. During the last part of my senior year, around prom time, I met my now husband Ken. We had three children and I spent nearly 23 years being a stay at home mom and raising the children. After these many years I enrolled in college, and was even fortunate enough to have a job doing transcription which allowed me to be at home with my children. One goes through different phases when they are rearing children because every decision you make you have to make sure that you put your family first. So after some personal challenges I had to put school on hold for a while, but it was still in the back of my mind to go back to college, get my degree and teach. So here I am--back at the University of Minnesota, which is where I started years ago, and my goal is to finish my get my degree in English and become a middle school or high school teacher and eventually complete my Masters in Education as well.

What has gotten me this far in life to where I am at now is my strong belief in God. I have received so many blessings in my life, a wonderful, devoted husband, wonderful children, and a grandchild. God spoke to me last year and said it is now time for you to go back to school to complete your degree and do what it is that you are suppose to do and that is to become a teacher.  I also love to write and have done lots of writing over the last few years. I have had written several poems and have had two published. I have written a book that offers spiritual encouragement in which I am currently seeking a publisher for.

Who or what has been influential/inspiring in your life?
Ever since the 2nd grade I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. This influence came from my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Sloan at Bagley Elementary School in Pontiac, Michigan. I will never forget her. She was a big influence in my life and then also in the 6th grade was the school librarian Miss Wessell. She gave me my first novel to read which was Charlotte’s Webb. I remember reading that book in about two days. Every week when I would come to her she would give me another novel type book to read. I would go see her after school on Friday’s so just so she could give me another book for the coming week to read.

In general, people who inspire me the most I would have to say are those that are committed to doing what they feel is right not only for themselves, but for good of all society. All the men and women that I learned about during the Civil Rights Course such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Rev. Shuttlesworth inspire me to realize that I too can achieve my goal to become a teacher even at the age that I am at now. These people make me want to keep on going and going so that I too can help and teach others.

What’s an issue you care passionately about?
One main issue that I am passionate about is literacy and helping people gain the proper reading and writing skills to be successful. There are so many children, and adults for that matter, who cannot read or write. Reading is one of the most important skills there is among our studies, because if one can read they can learn how to do whatever it is that they want to do. Reading helps a person engage in conversations with people, gain comprehension skills as well as enhances communication skills. Helping children and adults gain the proper reading and writing skills helps them become better communicators as well and builds confidence and self-esteem.

What interested you about the HECUA program you participated in?
What interested me about the HECUA Program was that I would be able to have an opportunity to travel to places, historic places, see exhibits, monuments that represented the Civil Rights Movement. What peaked my interest most was when I was told that I would be able to see some of the landmark places where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. publically spoke. Knowing that I would be able to see and learn some history really inspired me—especially learning more details about what my African American forefathers went through to help build this nation. They fought for freedom and I wanted to see these places, breathe the air, and absorb the energy still lingering long after.

What was your most memorable field speaker or class activity and why?
There were so many memorable moments of this trip, that it is hard to say just one.  I think the most memorable one for me was in Birmingham, Alabama where we went on an all day tour with Myrna Carter Jackson. She took us to so many historic sights and she knew so much. She took us to the 16th Street Baptist Church where the four little girls were killed. She also said that not many people knew that on the day these four little girls were killed there were also two African American boys that were killed on that day as well. She took us to the sight where there were statues of the dogs that were used during some of the boycotts and demonstrations that were used to attack people both men, women and children. I remember Ms. Jackson saying that sometimes she can go through the statute of the attack dogs and it does not bother her and then other times it does bother her and she gets teary eyed. Ms. Jackson also took our group to see the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth who was very active during the Civil Rights Movement. We saw him at a nursing home where he is now residing. He is now 88 years old.

I am also so very thankful that I became acquainted with and read about some remarkable women such as Fannie Lou Hamer and Ella Baker during this course. These women had a fire in them that could not be put out. When they made their voices heard it changed the lives not only for African Americans, but for Americans everywhere. 

Meeting the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth was also a life changing experience for me.  I never thought that I would actually have the opportunity to meet a Civil Rights Activists in person who I can actually say I touched him and when I touched him he lightly squeezed my hand in a way that sent off a special spark in me. He lit a silent fire that I hope to keep going for the rest of my life. Seeing him lying there and learning what he went through putting his life on the line for equal rights for African Americans everywhere is enough to keep me going in my goals to be a teacher. I realize that what he went through and all others before and after him fought for I have no right to ever say that I am depressed about anything, because the way has already been paved for me to accomplish my goals as a teacher of our young people and a writer.  

How did this HECUA program make an impact on your life and how you think about your future?
The HECUA CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM has made such a huge impact in my life--I will never be the same. As I look back now and reflect over this whole experience, it still takes my breath away and brings me to tears. I have had such an awesome summer, one that I will never forget as long as I live. I never thought that at age of 53 I would have this kind of an opportunity. This has been such a rewarding and fulfilling experience for me.  I saw the Voting Rights Museum, the Civil Rights Museum, the Slavery and Civil War Museum. I saw the Lorraine Hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was killed. I saw the home where Dr. King and his family lived, the church that he preached at. I visited and stood in the yard where Medgar Evers was gunned down. I visited the temple where his funeral was held. I stood on the steps of the 16th Street Baptist Church were the four little girls were killed when it was bombed.

I also got to live and experience one of my life goals which was to live the college dormitory life. I lived it for 14 days living on campuses such as The University of Springfield, the University of Memphis, Jackson State University, Tulane University, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Oakland University and University of Wisconsin. This was such a wonderful, wonderful experience for me, especially at my age as a non-traditional student.

What are you excited about? Or, what gives you hope?
I will use my experience after this course to teach our young people about our African American forefathers, how they fought, bled and died so that they can have the educational opportunities they are having and that it is their responsibility to pass the torch and teach other African Americans about their history. If we all do our part to teach, educate and help each other not forget about our past forefathers and what they did for us and also at the same time keep moving in a positive direction towards the future, we as African American people and all people for that matter no matter what race we are, we will be continue to grow, prosper for the good of all mankind and make the children of the future be proud to want to pick up where we left off and continue to more forward in a positive direction.