For such a time as this.” In the Book of Esther, we read how Mordecai reminds Esther that she is positioned to make a difference at just that time in her life. Theotis Robinson also took the position to make a difference at his time.
Theotis Robinson was the first African American to be admitted into the University of Tennessee after much perseverance and determination.
Student Robinson, who was not allowed to stay in a residence hall during his time at the university, recently attended the dedication of the University of Tennessee Robinson Residence Hall, named in his honor.
Growing up in a neighborhood where the Knoxville Coliseum now stands, Robinson attended schools in a segregated Knoxville School system. He queries how ironic it was to spend duplicitous money for two school systems, one for the whites and one for the blacks. “I recall, in high school, receiving books that had been discarded from West High School with pages missing, notes from students like James loves Judy, and what have you?”
He reminds us that the ‘separate, but equal’ terminology that had existed since Plessy v. Ferguson did not hold true in the lives of his friends or Robinson.
His earliest political memory was sitting with his mom, listening to the election returns when Harry Truman defeated Thomas Dewey for the presidency. He was six years old and says he was glued to the radio, listening to the election returns. Going forward, he has followed both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions since 1952 at the age of 6. When other kids were playing outside, he would come in and sit in front of the TV to watch both national conventions, and he’s done that ever since.
Robinson recounted how his 5th grade teacher, Ms. Drake, taught what it meant to be an American in her American history class. “She taught what this nation was supposed to be. He recited a song written in 1941 as the United States was preparing to go to war. leading up to World War II. A song of black patriotism
- Up the hill to the Rhine.
- We’ve been right there in line, serving the red, white, and blue.
- All our future is here.
- Everything we hold dear.
- We are Americans too.
- Somewhere out there, in the parade, loudly, proudly, undismayed, will be singing this song, many millions strong.
- We are Americans. Loyal Americans. We are Americans, too.
The memory of his civics teacher, Mrs. Hudson, prompts him to question how many political leaders are well-versed in American civics.
He also challenges all of us to review the American Citizenship Test for naturalized citizenship. Check and see how much you know here.
Another impact on Robinson’s political opinions is the point at the base of the Statue of Liberty that reads, Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free. He questions the divisions in this nation today: “We are not welcoming to those who do not look like, or think like, or worship in the same way that the majority of us worship.”
Robinson reminds us that we have to be cognizant of everyone’s needs. We have to be cognizant. We’re made stronger by inclusion than by division.
He also recalled the UTK black engineering student named Martin Dean, who came from Morristown and was in that first black engineering class. During the summers, he interned at IBM, and after graduating, he went to work there. He later earned his master’s degree. Then a PhD from Stanford University. Mark, a black engineer, was on the research and development team at IBM that developed the personal computer. He also then worked on the research and development team that put together the program and the software that allows your PC to talk to your printer.
Robinson asks, “What’s the most important? Loyalty to an individual or a political party? Or loyalty to a set of principles and values. You know, we can follow individuals or political parties. We can go wrong. If our North Star is not a founding principle and the founding values upon which this nation was established.”
Robinson says he will spend some time this year reflecting on what’s most important. He says we have a lot more in common than we have differences. “Everybody wants to live in a safe neighborhood. We all want the same thing. We want opportunities, not just for ourselves, but for our prodigy. We want to be able to see doctors when our health needs demand. What we have accomplished, he said, is a republic. If you can keep it. That question still hangs in the balance, these 250 years later, of the great experiment that we call American democracy.”
Every Bearden Rotary meeting leaves the participants with a call to make a difference. Theotis Robinson left us with proof of the difference one person can make in ‘such a time as this.’
The Rotary Club of Bearden meets every Friday, 12:15 p.m. for a luncheon meeting/program at Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike, 37919. All guests are welcome. Contact Joseph Pace with membership questions: here.
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