I met Dorothy West about 25 years post-graduation, as a result of a very serious fix involving her son, Jeffery.
She wore her hair naturally at the time. Being a natural man, I gave her high-compliments. Dorothy replied, dryly, that while she liked the style, shortly after the birth of her first child, “My hair would curled so tight that it gave me migraines.” (Consequently, for a while she got her hair “did,” wore wigs, and otherwise presented, in my opinion, unnaturally.) We both cracked-up. And to this day I’m not sure that if she were just jesting.
During that difficult time we became friends.
Also, I got to know Jeffery’s father, a CVS alum, as well as his too sweet grandmothers. Humbly, I spoke on his (and my own) behalf at her “home-going” service. There, it touched me to see the many folks touched favorably by Dorothy.
You're right Dorothy West was a good woman. When I returned to Chicago and started working for the Chicago Park District as an Art Teacher, at my first all staff training she greeted me and showed me how things were done. We remained friends until she passed on and I got to know the whole family. Her mom and aunts are exceptional seamstress and they even taught me to sew. She had a beautiful spirit. It's good that we don't forget those who are not here in person. Stay up.
Alvin-Omawata Hill (1972)
I met Dorothy West about 25 years post-graduation, as a result of a very serious fix involving her son, Jeffery.
She wore her hair naturally at the time. Being a natural man, I gave her high-compliments. Dorothy replied, dryly, that while she liked the style, shortly after the birth of her first child, “My hair would curled so tight that it gave me migraines.” (Consequently, for a while she got her hair “did,” wore wigs, and otherwise presented, in my opinion, unnaturally.) We both cracked-up. And to this day I’m not sure that if she were just jesting.
During that difficult time we became friends.
Also, I got to know Jeffery’s father, a CVS alum, as well as his too sweet grandmothers. Humbly, I spoke on his (and my own) behalf at her “home-going” service. There, it touched me to see the many folks touched favorably by Dorothy.
Peace
Omawata '72
Larry Baldwin (1972)
You're right Dorothy West was a good woman. When I returned to Chicago and started working for the Chicago Park District as an Art Teacher, at my first all staff training she greeted me and showed me how things were done. We remained friends until she passed on and I got to know the whole family. Her mom and aunts are exceptional seamstress and they even taught me to sew. She had a beautiful spirit. It's good that we don't forget those who are not here in person. Stay up.
Larry Baldwin, Super Gnat