My father’s story is the story of America, the story of redemption.
Dad has always worked hard.
At 10 years old, he shined shoes in Charleston for 10 cents a shine. At 13, he started picking cotton for 10 hours a day, making $1.50 for every 100 pounds, and he could pick nearly 200 pounds a day.
And in 1965, Ben Scott spent some 105 days fighting in Vietnam. I was born while he was overseas.
When he returned home, he was met at the airport by an angry mob.
“Baby killer,” they yelled. “Worse! He’s a n****r baby killer,” one spat in his face.
A full week passed before he spoke to anyone.
Understanding the pain and challenges my father overcame helped me understand my story.
Dad isn’t just a Vietnam vet; he’s a Black Vietnam vet. They left the misery and brutality of an impossible war front and arrived home to a nation that wanted nothing to do with them, that was embarrassed by them. On top of that, my father came home to a nation that wouldn’t allow him to rise, purely because of the color of his skin.
My parents divorced when I was 7 years old. Years into my adulthood, I learned that watching us drive away was the worst day of my father’s life.
Growing up, I spent years angry at my father or wishing he was there. But thank God I developed a relationship with him as an adult, and I know now that he was doing the best he could.
Over the years, my father forged his life anew. His is a story of beautiful, mind-blowing redemption.
So I want to take a moment to wish my Dad a Happy Father’s Day!
Thank you for showing me what it means to never give up, even when it seems all is lost. Your perseverance and drive to become the man you are today is inspiring in so many ways, both as your son, and a man.
I can’t thank you enough for your willingness to grow, to ask for help. Yours is a story of redemption, and I can’t tell you how much you’ve taught me.
I love you, Dad.
Happy Father’s Day
– Tim
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