It’s June of 1949 and I have just graduated from the Pennsylvania State College with a B.S. degree in Science. This was a significant accomplishment. I was the first Negro from my hometown of Coatesville, Pennsylvania to attend a major college that is predominantly white. There were a couple of other students that went to nearby Negro colleges. I was venturing out into the bigger world where I would be in the minority; it was a challenge but I was prepared.
Although I had been an honor student in high school, I was an average student as an undergraduate in college. I was enrolled in the School of Chemistry and Physics because my father was pushing me to become a Medical Doctor. He wanted me to be successful in life and make a lot of money. Although he was pushing me to become a medical doctor, I was not interested and besides, there was no money for medical school. We were not aware of scholarship opportunities. The only Negro careers that we were aware of at this time: school teachers, Doctors, and Nurses. Little did we know of the infinite career opportunities available in the larger world outside of our small town. Somehow we accepted the limitations put on us by the white community.
I was now free after 16 years of school to begin a new adventure. . I have a college degree but no possibility of a job. I knew the routine for those 16 years. Listen in class, participate, study, do the homework, take tests, pass and move on. I had been comfortable before but this was different. As a freshman, I took a series of tests which were designed to predict academic success. I was told that I had a deep seated fear of failure which might follow me the rest of my life; perhaps success would overcome this fear. I was also told by my English Composition Prof that if I chose not to be a Medical Doctor, I should consider a career in writing.
Now, what do I do? I can continue my education by enrolling in Graduate School and support myself by working full time in Cook’s Restaurant in State College. That worked well for about half a semester until burnout set in and I dropped out of school; I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Fate stepped in, in the form of the local draft board of Chester County. Although World War II had ended, the military draft was still in existence. I was now 22 years old and had been deferred from military service while I was in school but now that my circumstances have changed, I have been reclassified as 1A and I am about to be drafted into the Army. Horror of all horrors! I didn’t want that! I could not envision myself as a foot soldier in the trenches.