Introduction Page

INTRODUCTION

HE WAS MY HERO TOO

Evolving! On going! Everlasting feelings, are the transcending thoughts, energies, and spirits of our elders and ancestors from our community of Mount Vernon, NY. -- AKA the "City on the Move & A City That Believes".

Our ancestors transcending voices are crying out, "And still I will rise"!

Jerald LeVon Hoover, in his quest to express his inner most emotions, thoughts and experiences that has evolved from his journey from birth until now (2001), points out his uniquely sensitive soul searching feelings with the understanding to make good sense out of his humanity. His love for God, himself, his family and the community of Mount Vernon. His concerns which encompass the social ills that has plagued this community, its parents and definitely the youth now and in the past years. …But!

And still I will rise!

What is quite intriguing, challenging, uniquely extra-ordinary, heartwarming and go straight to the heart of the matter about HE WAS MY HERO TOO and of course, MY FRIEND MY HERO is the places and setting in Mount Vernon where Jerald LeVon Hoover decided to develop his characters and story-line around an average typical African-American family struggling and surviving to move forward. The places where these developed from are: Levister Towers (the projects), Mount Vernon High School, South-side Boys and Girls Club and local churches of Third Street and Sixth and Ninth Avenues. Those of us that know and are familiar with these places can truly appreciate and understand Jerald LeVon Hoover's transcending thoughts and feelings to express and create a guide that will help have an impact on our youth and their families and their communities. Which incidentally, are still struggling with the same social issues: drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancy, AIDS, lack of education, unemployment - along with the Basketball Jones'…But!…

Still I Will Rise

The city of Mount Vernon which has a population of over 80,000 within its four square miles, is a great city. Many cultural ethnic groups have had a profound impact on the greatness of this city. Since the beginning of the 20th century, African-Americans, Jews, Italians, and the Caribbean cultures contributions are quite evident and stick out to exemplify the rich heritage and strong history which it now proclaims. I would like to share a few thoughts praising the impact of African-Americans and their vital roles and contributions to the rich heritage of Mount Vernon. Not to lesson or take away from any other culture or ethnic group because their contribution and impact are equally honorable and well represented. I am very much a part of all of them, for over 40 years. I am an African-American who is very proud of the evolution, growth and development of our race and vital roles we've played in the past and present.

Today my deep emotions are driven by the voices of the elders, ancestors and my experiences as a Mount Vernonite. I so often say to people, "you can go across this country far and wide and you will not find another city quite like Mount Vernon. One that can share and boast of a legacy of successful achievements and contributions in every profession. You can name it from: politics, education, the arts and entertainment, sports, medicine, the military, writers, the clergy, human services. Again, you can name it and an African-American from Mount Vernon has achieved it. The phenomenon is many of these Mount Vernonites were born and raised in Levister Towers "the projects". They graduated from Mount Vernon High School, and also attended the local Boys and Girls Clubs, (North and South-side units), as well as the churches in the area. These same characters evolved in Jerald LeVon Hoover's books, HE WAS MY HERO TOO and MY FRIEND MY HERO …Yes!

And Still I Will Rise!

There has been four public schools renamed in Mount Vernon from prominent national figures to born and raised Mount Vernonites and one African from the continent of Africa. These schools were so renamed from Robert Fulton to Edward Williams; Nathan Hale to Cecil Parker; George Washington to Nellie Thorton and from James Grimes to Nelson Mandela. These successful achievements pay tribute to the elders and ancestors and unsung heroes, from the 20's, 30's 40's and 50's; whose only desires and hopes were that their children, would work hard and grow up to be somebody. Very simple, not complicated. Guess what? It worked!

In the late 80's a book entitled, "A Time To Remember", written by Larry H. Spruill H.D. The Mount Vernon historian documented the first comprehensive study with photographs of the African-American community from the very beginning (late 1800's) through the 1980's. Dr. Spruill is one of those Mount Vernonites, like Jerald LeVon Hoover that was raised and grew up in the, and I quote, "the projects".

(Yes! Yes! Yes! (And Still I Will Rise)

When you become familiar and get to know the places and settings in these two books which is really one novel: HE WAS MY HERO TOO and MY FRIEND MY HERO; and get to look at the total history of Mount Vernon, all ethnic groups included, you will truly understand and appreciate Jerald LeVon Hoover's work as a writer.

Jerald LeVon Hoover had a strong commitment and desire to express him humanity with the drive and creative ability to inspire one to look at their own life: its issues, pressures and circumstances and still say, "And I Will Rise." I did not have the opportunity to interact personally and share experiences with Jerald LeVon Hoover as a young man growing up in Mount Vernon. But, I did share experiences with his strong and courageous mother, Hilda Hoover and several members of his loving and close knit family.

But, now because of the transcending spirits and energies of the past from families living (quote) "in the projects" the opportunity has allowed me to get to know Jerald LeVon Hoover and share in his creative expression. Jerald LeVon Hoover is carrying out the calls of the elders and ancestors from this great city, Mount Vernon. (A City on the Move; A City That Believes) I hope you enjoy this novel and gain an understanding of the messages.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I have risen again, and again and yet again! Speaks the voices of the elders and ancestors. It is through you that we continue to grow and live.

                                                                "This belief in the oneness of
                                                                humankind, about which
                                                                I have often spoken in concerts
                                                                and elsewhere, has existed within
                                                                me side by side with my deep
                                                                attachment to the cause of my
                                                                own race. I do not think,
                                                                however, that my sentiments are
                                                                contradictory …there truly is a
                                                                kinship among us all, a basis for
                                                                mutual respect and brotherly love."

Paul Robeson

                                                               Former Executive Director
                                                               Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club
                                                               William (Billy) Thomas

Jerald L. Hoover
CEO / President