Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to some of the things said by Mr. Myers as a representative of the NAACP at the last district meeting. I was not able to attend this meeting but did read his comments in the paper and can assume they are his words.

I am not replying in anger, malice or any intentional ugliness whatsoever; I am responding only to tell my story. Here is just that:

I applied to be a mentor last year at Barnwell Elementary School simply because I wanted to. I felt led to. I wanted to be involved in attempting to help a younger child as my two children are now grown.

I was assigned a beautiful little girl. I did not ask for anyone in particular. I was given a child that had some issues with reading. I met the little girl and her teacher.

I immediately loved the teacher as she was sincerely interested in the girl. She gave me the areas she was struggling in and asked if I could help. I was glad to.

I met weekly with "my" girl and we had a great time. She shared with me that she lived with grandparents. She only saw her mom occasionally but I could tell she loved her dearly. Her father lived in another county but she loved him and spoke of him often. She shared her life with me and the difficulties of living where she did.

She and I read together, played together, and worked together. We were walking down the hall as one of her previous teachers walked by. She stopped and spoke to us. I felt her slip her little hand into mine as if she were proud to be with me and I was elated! We'd become friends!

I met her right before her birthday so I surprised her with a small gift. I brought her favorite candy to her simply because I wanted to. We developed a wonderful relationship. She smiled and lit up when I came to get her out of class on Fridays. I had to take vacation time to be with her but it was okay. I felt like I was making a difference in her life.

We were in our "meeting" on Friday reading her favorite book I'd just bought for her from the Bookworm. She looked at me toward the end of our allotted time and said to me, "Mrs. Tina, I don't like white people."

I almost fell out of my chair.

I replied, "but I am a "white people."

She said, "Oh, not you. My Momma don't like white people either. We don't like white people."

I was devastated to say the least. She did not even know what she was saying; only repeating what she'd heard at home. This is where hatred and hard feelings are being put into the thoughts of the children.

"You can't blame a child for being a child."

Please know, Mr. Myers, that not all white people - "won't be concerned about black children."

Her teacher wasn't - "lackluster." She was a wonderful, caring teacher. She was an African-American.

I've said all of this to say that I don't think this attitude or way of thinking was what God had in mind for us at all.

I love people and try to do so as He did. His life was lived to be an example to all of us.

My prayer is that the most qualified, best suited person gets elected in the upcoming school board election. One who cares for the welfare of our children, for our school system and for our community as a whole.

Trying to be like Him,

Tina Gray
Barnwell