Every now and again, I get asked to tell my story in front of an audience. On this particular day the request came from Iverson Jackson, Executive Director, of the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission.
When I get these kinds of requests, the first question is always, “Which story of mine do you want to hear?”
My many stories
This is my 50th year in business, so I have lots of fodder for a speech. For instance:
- How I started Arkansas Flag and Banner on $400 (that story is encouraging for young people)
- Lessons learned while navigating my business through 2 wars, 2 recessions, and a pandemic.
- The evolution of business: from door-to-door sales, to telemarketing, to catalog, internet, and now social media.
- Or maybe the story of saving the Arkansas Flag and Banner building, Taborian Hall with its famous Dreamland Ballroom.
Because Iverson’s event was being held at the Mosaic Templars, what I call my sister building, and because Arkansas Fair Housing is all about real estate, he wanted the latter, the story of Taborian Hall.
For this I need no notes.
On Friday morning, the opening words from Iverson and Allison Bragg were full of platitudes and the business of fair housing. Then came remarks from DuShun Scarbrough, ED, of the Martin Luther King Commission, who quoted MLK and spoke of the opportunities befallen those born in nice neighborhoods verses those born to the lesser parts of town.
Next was me. I shot from the hip and told my “Love Story” of how I espied the Taborian Hall from afar, came to have money enough for a down payment, and later through the luck of the universe or grace of God, secured a loan, renovated the building, and only then, did I learn the rich history of the Taborian Hall and feel the heft of responsibility that came with owning it.
I told the audience time was running out. That the patrons of my building were now in their 80’s. That I felt moved to spend hard earned money on hiring a historian to research and write a book, preserving the oral histories before they were lost. Eventually the research was given to PBS and became the foundation for the Dreamland documentary.
Just Being Me
My speech delivery was less than perfect, but it was me; Inspiring, funny, and a little Columbo’ish.
Later as I was proudly telling my husband of almost 40 years about the speech, he said, “It’s hard to believe all you have accomplished. Having known you since your twenties, I am not sure, back then, most people would have bet on that horse.” (but of course, he did)
And that crazy legacy of me just being me is why, my friends, I give young people so much grace.
