Dr. Shelly Brown-Jeffy

Associate Professor of Sociology

From Slavery To Freedom: A History of African-Americans by John Hope Franklin

Right before he turned 60, my granddad went to the local community college to receive an Associate of Arts Degree. At the time, I was in elementary school, third grade. I spent a great deal of time hanging out in my grandparents basement, finding things to get into. Looking around, I found this book: From Slavery To Freedom: A History of African-Americans by John Hope Franklin. I picked it up, began to read it and I couldn’t put it down. It was all about people like me, my parents, my grandparents, my family, my friends and their families. That was a turning point for me. It was then, that I developed my love of reading and learning.

Oh yes, my granddad did receive his degree on June 3, 1979.