Voice of the People: Am I Too Old to Have a Hero?

I will readily admit, I will soon be 47 years old. I also readily admit that while growing up I never believed in having fictitious heroes. Instead, I chose real people who were true to their disposition and who greatly contributed to our Unique American Society. I referred to these people as my special mentors. Thus I read autobiographies and other books on the lives and accomplishments of four great men: Thurgood Marshall (United States Supreme Court’s 96th justice and its first African-American justice), President Ronald Reagan (American politician and actor, who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989), Reginald Lewis (Richest black man in the 1980s), and Marcus Garvey (Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator). Later during law school I adopted another special mentor, Clarence Thomas-who was the only one of my special mentors I was able to actually meet. These are the leaders I learned from through their books and the way they lived their lives. I am not nearly as accomplished as these men but I am sure I am a better person now because of my admiration and study of their lives and accomplishments. I have never referred to any of these men as my hero, nor will I do so now. However, for the first time in my life I believe I have found a true hero which encompasses many of the great characteristics of these men and more. Am I too old to have a hero? Bessine Littlefield-Richard, in my opinion is a true hero. She encompasses the passion, dedication, determination and honesty of the above mentioned men. Furthermore she is approachable and accessible for all of us. When I first met Bessine Littlefield-Richard I thought. “Wow! This lady is on fire.” Her passion was too powerful to contain. So I thought, “Is she real.” I have never met someone with such passion and dedication to the cause of bettering their society in which they live. So I asked around town and everyone said the same thing. “Bessine Littlefield-Richard has always been like that.” She has always been passionate about bettering her community. She has always been fighting for a better life for all the people who are encompassed by the west side of San Bernardino city. The only difference is that now she is on a more public platform. Not only does her passion bleed through the atmosphere of complacency, her concerns and honesty is true to the current needs of the 6th District and the city of San Bernardino at large. I believe the contributions of Bessine Littlefield-Richard to the city of San Bernardino will be just as notable as the contributions to America of the five men mentioned above. Bessine Littlefield-Richard, you are my hero.