A special relationship between a man and his barber

Traveling about a mile approaching the town center, he pointed out a movie theater that provided a pivotal moment in his youth. When he was a young teenager (around 13 or 14), he took a date one afternoon to see a movie.  A White man grabbed her breast. Mr. Coleman, having built up significant upper body strength mowing those huge lawns every week, immediately and valiantly defended the honor of his date by beating the White man nearly to death.

“I had blood all over my clothes when I got home,” said Mr. Coleman. “It wasn’t mine though,” he said matter of factly.

His mother, knowing the racial climate at that time, and how word would spread in such a small town, sent him away that night to Miami. Looking into the wisdom-filled eyes of an elder, I smiled knowing that there were undoubtedly many stories in the South about Black men who responded to disrespect and dishonorable acts with strength and power, and that not all the White men who exceeded the limits got away with it.

Our discussion then turned back to his special relationship with Min. Farrakhan. Mr. Coleman said as long as he has known the Minister, he has always been a great teacher, with a clear understanding of people, and was always working to help others. Although the Minister is characterized differently in the media, Mr. Coleman says anyone who takes the time to really get to know and observe him would want to be in his presence.

“He was always very consistent and persistent and he loves people, he loves all people.  A lot of people don’t know that about him,” said Mr. Coleman. “He’s kind but strong, a very strong man.  He’s the type of man that any person—and I would tell any person—that if you get to know him you would want to be in his company and you can very easily learn from him. It never ceases to amaze me that every time we are in a conversation, he has something so profound to say.  He’s just a great person and a great man,” he added.

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