The document reflects on the author's experience attending high school in Jersey City in the 1970s. It discusses how the civil rights movement of the 1960s enabled greater freedoms for the author's generation. The author appreciated teachers who demonstrated discipline, like his favorite teacher Mr. Harry Massey, the dean and legendary football coach at Lincoln High School. One day, Mr. Massey physically pulled the author into his office for walking in the halls late and wearing a hat, against school rules. Their interaction highlighted the respect Mr. Massey demanded as an authority figure.

1. 1
THE
WHEEL
SPEAKS
2013
–
Respect
When
Respect
Is
Due
Today
I
just
wanted
to
reflect
back,
back
on
my
personal
upbringing
in
particularly
when
I
was
a
high
school
student
in
Jersey
City
at
Lincoln
High
School.
I
came
up
through
the
years
1974
through
1978
a
transitional
time
in
this
country
following
the
1960’s
where
civil
rights
was
the
catalyst
which
initiated
change
throughout
the
country.
A
change
in
which
many
of
my
generation
benefitted
being
we
during
the
70’s
were
suddenly
allowed
to
do
many
of
the
things
our
parents
and
especially
our
grandparents
couldn’t
do.
And
with
this
independence
many
of
the
kids
my
age
also
were
very
guilty
of
being
unappreciative
of
struggles
that
particularly
African
Americans
had
to
endure
in
order
to
make
the
lives
of
generations
to
come
like
my
generation
comfortable.
I
wasn’t
a
role
model
student
as
a
teenager
I’ll
be
the
first
to
admit
that
but
the
one
thing
I
did
appreciate
during
my
high
school
years
was
the
teachers
who
I’d
come
in
contact
with
who
possess
a
certain
characteristic.
And
that
characteristic
of
course
retrospective
I
can
describe
it
now
but
back
then
in
was
something
I
needed
particularly
at
that
point
in
my
life.
And
that
was
discipline
for
some
reason
instead
of
being
scared
or
shying
away
from
the
disciplinarians
during
my
era
I
would
seek
them.
I
had
some
great
women
in
my
life
who
didn’t
play
and
made
it
clear
they
were
not
my
friend
and
loved
me
with
all
their
hearts
even
though
they
absolutely
never
said
it
aloud.

2. 2
And
in
those
days
not
many
parents
did
but
my
mother
and
my
grandmother
were
very
stern
and
didn’t
take
any
mess
and
as
the
person
who
held
my
entire
family
together
my
mothers
mom
Nancy
Sue
Rogers
demanded
and
receive
respect
everywhere.
But
along
with
my
brothers
the
three
of
us
had
gotten
to
the
age
where
we’d
no
longer
be
around
mom
every
day
and
would
be
spending
majority
of
our
awaken
hours
in
high
school.
Being
athletes
and
at
the
same
time
especially
speaking
for
myself
starting
to
as
my
mother
would
say
“feel
my
oats”
getting
a
little
cocky
it
had
gotten
to
the
point
where
it
was
necessary
for
someone
to
put
me
in
my
place.
And
that
person
caught
me
exactly
at
the
right
time
I
can
remember
like
it
happen
yesterday
and
it
happen
in
1974.
I
was
walking
in
my
high
school
corridor
wearing
my
mustang
hat
which
was
not
allowed
in
school
and
bopping
a
big
time
freshman
or
at
least
I
thought
and
then
out
of
the
blue
this
man
appeared
and
literally
grabbed
me
physically
by
armpit
and
brought
me
into
a
neighboring
office.
I
had
no
idea
who
he
was
then
I
begin
to
look
on
the
walls
of
the
office
and
begin
noticing
pictures
of
the
football
team
all
around
the
room
then
upon
his
desk
I
saw
the
name
tag
that
read
“Dean
Harry
Massey”.
Harry
Massey
the
legend
himself
Mr.
Massey
was
the
face
of
Lincoln
High
School
himself
having
had
attended
and
being
a
superstar
athlete
and
becoming
the
coach
of
a
widely
respected
program
in
the
city
having
coach
some
players
to
division
1
prominence.
But
more
so
Mr.
Massey
was
known
as
a
disciplinarian
who
quite
simply
did
not
play.
I’d
already
been
aware
that
along
with
Mr.
Massey
in
high
school
my
uncles
actually
starred
on
the
football
team
years
ago
with
him
and
I
knew
the
last
thing
I
wanted
to
say
was
my
last
name.
Being
that
he
went
to
school
with
my
father
and
all
my
uncles
and
why
would
that
be
a
problem
you
ask?
Easy
to
explain
basically
my
father
and
his
brothers
all
have
the
last
name
Thomas
like
mine
but
what
would
instantaneously
ring
a
bell
in
Mr.
Massey’s
memory
would
be
that
like
them
my
first
name
started
with
the
letter
B.
And
of
course
when
Mr.
Massey
began
questioning
me
I
tried
to
be
cool
and
immediately
he
dedicated
that
and
verbatim
here’s
our
conversation.
Mr.
Massey:
The
bell
rang
where
are
you
going
walking
down
the
hall
way
not
only
late
but
wearing
a
hat
on
your
head
like
your
Super
Fly
or
something?
Oh,
you
think
you’re
cool
right?
Hmmmmm
a
cool
freshman
I
got
here
sitting
with
me,
what’s
your
name?
Me:
Basil
Mr.
Massey:
Basil?
What
kind
of
name
is
that?
Ok
what’s
your
last
name?
Me:
(reluctantly
and
under
my
breath
I
said)
Thomas
Mr.
Massey:
Thomas!
Thomas!
Thomas!
Hmmmmmmmmmm
hmmmmmmmmm.
(Now
I
am
confused
and
don’t
have
a
clue
what’s
happening
then
Mr.
Massey
begins
looking
on
a
calendar
in
his
office
and
we’re
in
the
month
of
October…then
he
begins
to
speak
again)

3. 3
Mr.
Massey:
Ok
Mr.
Thomas
today
date
is
October
2nd
and
I
don’t
want
to
see
you
until
October
17th
and
bring
your
father
not
your
mother,
your
father
if
you
don’t
bring
him
don’t
come
back
understand?
Me:
I
said
that’s
2
weeks
I
am
excluded
for
two
weeks?
Mr.
Massey:
(He
then
said)
and
you’re
now
trespassing
if
you
don’t
get
out
of
my
office
I’ll
have
Mr.
White
(the
resident
police
officer
on
school
grounds)
bring
you
to
the
precinct
and
book
you.
Of
course
I
was
in
shock
not
only
because
I
was
scared
to
death
at
telling
my
mother
but
how
was
I
going
to
tell
my
father?
Honestly
I
just
decided
to
tell
my
father
right
away
because
I’d
rather
have
dealt
with
him
then
my
mother
back
in
the
days.
I
gave
him
the
entire
story
and
told
him
the
date
being
two
weeks
away
and
he
told
me
to
immediately
get
dressed.
We
proceeded
to
the
school
going
directly
to
the
Dean’s
office
(Mr.
Massey)
and
right
as
we
turned
the
corner
down
the
corridor
Mr.
Massey
and
my
father
spotted
each
other
and
at
the
top
of
their
respective
lungs
shouted
each
other’s
names.
Mr.
Massey:
Ben
Thomas
My
Father:
Harry
Massey
Me:
(to
myself
of
course
I
“said
oh
my
god”)
And
as
we
sat
in
the
office
after
the
small
talk
about
old
times
and
families
which
of
course
which
immediately
led
into
a
conversation
about
yours
truly
started
very
sarcastically
by
Mr.
Massey.
Mr.
Massey:
Basil
–
Basil
–
Basil…yeah
I
see
Basil
everyday
walking
down
the
hallways
with
his
hats
on
bopping
and
hanging
out
with
the
seniors.
Hmmmmm
hmmmmm
I
see
him
only
a
few
weeks
in
school
and
always
cool
wearing
that
hat
like
he’s
doing
right
now.
My
Father:
(My
father
immediately
smacks
the
hat
of
my
head
and
of
course
the
smack
wasn’t
just
on
the
hat
it
was
the
first
and
last
time
my
father
had
ever
hit
me
too
then
he
said)
Harry
do
me
a
favor
let
him
back
in
school
today
because
I
am
not
trying
to
explain
this
to
Georgia
at
all.
Mr.
Massey:
Oh
I
know
that
(as
they
both
laughed)
My
Father:
And
if
he
does
anything
out
of
line
I
am
giving
you
permission
to
do
absolutely
anything
you
want
right
in
public
in
front
of
the
entire
school,
you
can
beat
his
ass.
Mr.
Massey:
I
got
him
Ben
don’t
worry.
That
was
classic
old
disciplining
and
there
were
many
of
kids
my
age
who
benefited
from
the
same
exact
treatment
we
weren’t
pacified
and
especially
knew
better
than
to
even
try
those
who
were
the
stern
disciplinarians
of
there
time.
It’s
real
different
now
and
every
damn
bodies
crying
about
what’s
immoral
or
what’s
politically
not
correct
in
the
way
kids
are
treated.
But
here’s
the
problem
that
we’ve
created
in
the
decades
that
has
past
since
these
days
we’ve
literally
entrusted
kids
to
do
a
job
that
many
of
the
parents
themselves
have
not
a
clue
of.

4. 4
And
that’s
to
basically
discipline
them
selves
a
job
that
as
mention
some
parents
not
only
aren’t
equipped
or
experience
enough
to
consume
but
some
quite
honestly
couldn’t
care
their
to
damn
busy
trying
to
do
themselves
quite
sadly.
But
the
last
thing
I
am
trying
to
do
is
point
a
finger
of
any
kind
I
am
just
strictly
trying
to
make
a
point.
And
the
point
is
right
about
now
it’s
totally
gone
run
a
muck.
And
in
my
opinion
it
just
seems
that
maybe
the
kids
aren’t
really
being
dealt
with
as
if
they’re
kids
and
the
responsibility
of
rounding
or
totally
developing
a
child
was
once
more
of
a
concentrated
effort.
I
can
remember
having
men
in
my
life
who
dealt
with
me
as
if
I
was
truthfully
their
own
son
there
weren’t
excuses
or
explanations
for
or
about
anything
it
just
had
to
be
done.
I
had
a
physical
education
teachers
Coach
Franklin
Walker
who
when
he
gave
his
test
instead
of
collectively
doing
the
personalized
exercises
as
a
unit
he’d
walk
to
each
individual
one
at
a
time.
You’d
be
tested
doing
windmills
jumping
jacks
sit-­‐ups
and
of
course
the
dreaded
pushups
no
excuses
no
if
ands
or
butts
it
had
to
be
done
so
you
prepared
and
got
yourself
physically
together
rand
ready.
I
have
a
question
though
how
many
of
these
kids
could
even
drop
and
give
you
25
push
ups
today?
You
had
to
do
at
least
25
push
ups
just
to
pass
Coach
Walker’s
class
and
I
am
talking
real
push
ups
too
and
it’s
not
a
wonder
why
most
all
the
men
I
at
least
went
to
high
school
with
even
today
could
stop
and
drop
and
give
you
25,
but
keep
some
oxygen
close
lol.
But
the
best
thing
about
people
like
Coach
Walker
or
especially
my
old
high
school
basketball
coach
whom
I
know
I
drive
folks
crazy
about
since
I
talk
about
him
every
chance
I
get
Coach
Charlie
Brown
is
this.
Even
today
as
grown
men
myself
and
each
and
every
one
of
my
friends
who
are
fortunate
enough
to
come
into
contact
with
these
great
individuals
which
should
included
one
of
my
idols
my
health
education
teacher
Mr.
John
L.
Hunter
still
address
these
men
as
either
Mr.
or
Coach.
There
is
a
protocol
that’s
been
establish
and
is
ritual
like
where
I
come
from
and
the
bottom
line
is
you
give
respect
when
respect
is
due.
Majority
of
especially
the
people
that
were
in
my
life
who
told
me
the
right
thing
today
usually
were
the
people
who
didn’t
want
to
be
my
friend
and
expected
one
thing.
That
was
completion
and
to
get
the
job
done
whether
I
wanted
to
do
it
or
not
because
as
an
adult
you
would
soon
find
that
you’ll
be
confronted
with
people
and
situations
where
your
character
would
be
sustaining
factor
not
only
in
what
allows
you
to
be
productive
but
it
will
make
you
the
person
these
people
envision
you
to
eventually
become.
Let’s
be
candid
straight
and
forward
not
everyone
in
your
life
wants
to
become
anything
and
will
do
anything
necessary
to
debilitate
you
and
possibly
the
potential
you
have
if
you
display
promise.
Jealousy
and
envy
can
be
disguised
at
all
times
it’s
safe
not
to
assume
that
these
doesn’t
exclude
even
family
members.
Sometimes
family
members
have
a
way
subconsciously
even
without
them
even
being
aware
of
being
guilty
of
suppressing
even
the
productivity
of
those
they
love
out
of
fear.
The
fear
of
losing
what
they
love
or
because
of
their
deficiencies
or
inability
to
be
a
bridge
of
nurturing
they’ll
break
or
burn
anything
down
that
can
potentially
even
grow
prosperously.

5. 5
My
beloved
uncle
David
Lee
Rogers
always
would
preach
to
me
not
about
what
was
right
and
what
was
wrong
he’d
preach
to
me
about
location
basically
being
in
the
“wrong
place
at
the
right
time”
and
the
people
you
choose
to
be
around.
I
always
took
his
advice
to
heart
and
kept
I
felt
myself
to
be
in
the
company
of
friends
who
I
trust
my
entire
time
while
I
was
growing
especially
as
a
young
man.
Coming
up
everyone
who
knows
me
would
remember
I
was
particularly
close
to
basketball
legend
and
star
of
my
team
Tommie
Best
a
great
all
around
guy
as
well
very
trustworthy
and
still
a
great
friend.
We’d
often
travel
the
city
together
to
of
course
play
basketball
never
getting
into
mischief
at
all
just
to
respectable
young
men
balling.
One
night
when
coming
from
playing
ball
we
saw
a
group
of
our
friends
loitering
in
front
of
a
local
community
center
unbeknownst
to
the
both
of
us
the
police
had
just
requested
the
guys
moved.
They
circled
the
block
and
of
course
when
they
saw
the
kids
hadn’t
moved
had
gotten
upset
and
I
think
they
have
notice
me
and
Tommie
to
be
out
of
place
being
we
had
on
basketball
uniforms
and
requested
we
both
came
to
the
car.
As
we
approach
the
vehicle
Tommie
turned
around
and
told
the
guys
“we’ll
be
back
in
5
minutes”
and
of
course
remember
being
it
was
about
1978
we
were
dealing
with
some
who
still
had
a
racist
mindset
one
of
the
cops
got
pissed
off.
Saying
“oh
you’ll
be
back
in
5
minutes
we’ll
see
about
that”
then
made
an
announcement
they
were
taking
us
to
juvenile
booking
downtown.
As
I
sat
in
the
back
with
Tommie
I
got
immediately
nervous
he
said
“take
it
easy
they’ll
let
us
go
right
away”
I
had
to
remind
Tommie
I’d
just
turn
18
years
old
a
month
earlier.
And
of
course
after
they
found
that
out
the
took
me
to
the
precinct
up
the
block
where
I
was
taken
and
luckily
release
on
my
own
recognizant
but
with
a
desk
appearance
for
court.
Once
again
scared
to
tell
my
mother
I
told
my
father
after
agonizing
about
going
to
court
with
the
desk
appearance
I’d
receive
for
loitering
by
the
racist
police
officer
basically
I
was
in
the
“wrong
place
at
the
right
time”
something
my
uncle
talked
about
often
as
mention.
When
I
went
to
court
as
I
sat
in
the
courtroom
with
my
father
I
was
literally
in
shock
when
the
judge
who
presided
was
a
woman
and
then
almost
instantly
my
name
was
called
by
the
bailiff
in
the
court
and
the
arresting
officer
was
called
as
well.
Soon
as
I
rose
to
my
feet
the
judge
notice
how
young
I
was
and
ask
me
if
my
parent
was
with
me
my
father
stood
and
once
again
it
turned
out
he
was
friends
with
the
Judge
the
Honorable
Shirley
Tolentino
they
exchanged
some
brief
pleasantries
being
court
was
in
session.
Then
she
directed
her
attention
and
venom
on
the
arresting
officer
she
reprimanded
for
his
actions
after
hearing
my
testimony.
And
as
I
sat
down
feeling
a
bit
full
of
myself
because
the
judge
had
taken
my
side
of
the
story
she
immediately
looked
at
me
and
said
“Basil
Thomas
if
I
ever
see
you
in
my
court
room
again
for
any
reason
it
makes
no
difference
what
it
is
I
will
lock
you
up
no
if’s
butts
or
maybes
with
out
a
question,
is
that
understood”.
My
comply
was
immediate
and
that
situation
not
only
change
my
life
but
confirmed
everything
my
mother
and
what
other
adults
who
cared
about
me
always
said
about
accountability
and
my
personal
actions
or
lack
of
it.

6. 6
My
grandfather
was
my
favorite
person
in
the
whole
world
and
that
was
because
everything
just
seemed
so
honest
about
him.
His
was
very
candid
and
spoke
to
us
even
as
children
as
if
we
were
people
not
little
boys
(me
and
my
brothers).
He
spoke
quite
often
about
respect
and
what
it
required
in
order
to
get
respect
and
giving
it
was
priority
in
order
it
to
be
replicated.
I’ve
been
fortunate
enough
to
have
had
the
same
conversations
now
with
my
grandson
walking
the
same
streets
last
summer
having
them.
And
never
in
my
wildest
dreams
could
I
ever
envision
or
foresee
this
becoming
a
reality
having
been
able
to
live
through
times
where
not
everyone
may
have
wanted
to
see
me
make
it
through
but
I
had
help.
With
that
being
said
and
not
trying
to
make
this
into
an
extended
article
today
I’d
just
like
to
thank
those
instrumental
in
my
life
and
when
I
say
instrumental
I
am
talking
about
the
ones
who
wouldn’t
allow
me
to
be
caught
sleeping.
And
if
I
was
prepared
they
made
sure
I
was
whether
reluctantly
on
my
behalf
or
not
I
had
no
choice.
And
today
I
feel
as
if
there’s
so
many
that
need
to
be
reminded
that
the
most
effective
way
to
raise
a
child
as
well
productive
is
to
remember
this
and
don’t
forget.
Your
child
is
not
your
friend
because
the
last
thing
friends
want
sometimes
is
the
truth
and
your
child
should
be
exposed
to
nothing
but
the
truth.
Respect
when
respect
is
due
in
other
words
not
each
and
everyone
that
your
child
will
be
confronted
by
deserves
respect
or
especially
acknowledgement
and
that’s
when
as
a
parent
you’re
existence
has
more
to
do
with
what
happens
under
your
roof.
Because
in
the
real
world
some
have
a
difficult
time
in
believing
that
just
as
many
of
us
did
things
our
parents
may
not
have
had
a
clue
about
guess
what
your
kids
are
more
than
likely
doing
the
same
thing.
And
if
you’ve
never
instilled
in
them
how
to
rationally
make
decisive
choices
guess
who’ll
be
coming
to
rescue
sooner
or
later
and
unfortunately
in
these
times
you
might
not
want
to
leave
that
to
chance
anymore.
Respect
when
respect
is
due
and
the
best
thing
you
can
teach
any
child
today
is
to
respect
them
selves
because
it
seems
as
if
many
haven’t
even
been
taught
to
do
that.
Because
at
the
end
of
the
day
sadly
one
day
there
life
might
depend
on
it
and
everyone
that
I
am
associated
with
has
someone
somewhere
in
their
personal
life
whether
in
the
past
or
recent
who
wasn’t
taught
enough
just
to
have
self
respect.
Indecision
at
a
decisive
time
can
lead
to
someone
else
deciding
everything
each
and
everyday
of
your
life
whether
it’s
a
mortician
corrections
officer
police
officer
or
judge
basically
teach
them
now
or
they’ll
be
instructed
later
on
the
states
dollar
or
6
feet
under
the
states
land.
Respect
when
respect
is
due
basically
respecting
the
life
they’re
expected
to
hopefully
live……
respect
when
respect
is
due
recognizing
that
today
in
anticipation
of
tomorrow.
Respectfully,
THE
WHEEL
SPEAKS
ON
2013
(The
way
Humanity/Hudson
Expects
Everyone
to
Live)

7. 7