Hello my name is Thomas Brown. I was born in Greensboro North Carolina on August 25th 1943. I graduated from James B.Dudley high school in 1960. My mother enrolled me in the Catholic school system I was only five years old at the time. I had a guilty complex because I was always the youngest in my grade. I loved to play baseball. I played little league, pony league and semi- pro baseball. I did not enroll in college until after I got out of the military. I was drafted in 1966 and stayed for three years At the time I was married and working at the P.Lorrilard Cigarette factory upon leaving for the Army. after serving my time in the military I returned home to my wife and job, things were not the same certain departments of my job was segregated the making department was the higher paying which were for Whites, and the cutting department was the lower paying jobs which was for the minorities. Most all the blacks were afraid or just didn't want to get out of their comfort zone.The Civil Rights were in full force . I decided to test the waters and integrate.At the time it seem like this was one of the worst move of my life.my friend Henry Curry and myself took some of the worst abuse you could imagine, when we went to the break room I was the only black in there and a room full of whites. My inner being was telling me to be calm and just don't say anything and just relax this had to be God talking to me.I found out then if you hold your peace the Lord will fight your battle victory will be yours praise the Lord. From that day forward everyone was going to different departments as they chose and by the way the whites outnumbered us about 1000 to 2.
Now after I look over my life this is one of the greatest move that I could have made
