Gipson, Therlee

I was born August 10, 1939 in Arp, Texas in the midst of the Jim Crow Era. During the early years of my life I felt worthless, inferior and ashamed of being a Black person living in second class conditions. Many times I hated myself for being too dark and not light enough. One time my mother told me. Therlee, you was a light baby until you went out in the sun. However, I felt doomed to my situation and saw no way out. When I turned 17 years old, I volunteered for the US Navy and was accepted. Once in the Navy, I realized quickly I was restricted from achieving my dream. I wanted to become a Na...