Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Daniels.
Hi Thomas, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up at Van Dyke and Forest on the East Side of Detroit, I was always aware of segregation and integration, especially during the Civil Rights Movement. I felt the pain of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination when hearing this tragic news as I was walking to baseball practice at the University of Detroit. The Detroit Riots were a wonder to me; however, from our vantage point living at that time in the Gratiot and McNichols area still on the East Side of Detroit, we did not witness this disturbance firsthand.
Playing basketball with a group of black and white guys in their forties, we referred this Saturday afternoon gathering as geezerball. We actually bonded with shirts and bumper stickers as well as an end of season “banquet” giving out paper plate awards. I always received the MVP only because I held the key to the gym. It was at geezerball that my writing career began after a chance encounter with Thomas “Cookie” Marsh who, although African-American, would become my counterpart. We quickly realized that despite some obvious differences, we had many characteristics in common. We decided to tell our story in hopes that stereotypes could be destroyed and readers would realize the by getting to know one another friendships can be developed. Therefore, the first book in our Black and White Series was born: Black and White Like You and Me ( Sometimes Parallel Lines Intersect).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our road has been relatively smooth. People and organizations have been very receptive. The biggest challenge has been getting our message out. We continue to look for opportunities to share our message of unity.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I excelled in education as a teacher, administrator, and coach for forty years. My opportunities to help students and mentor teachers and coaches were at Oakwood Junior High in East Detroit, Michigan, U of D Jesuit High School, Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, and Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
I am most proud of the God Given effects that I have had on young people. I learned that you never know what impact you have until years later. My most cherished moments are when I receive a note from a former player, student, colleague, or parent thanking me usually by informing me how successful they now are and giving me some credit. On a memorial stone at Brother Rice, I inscribed, ” Long after they have forgotten what you taught them, they will remember how you treated them.”
Additionally, I am most proud of my books. While waiting for the first one to be published, Cookie and I were like two expectant fathers. Will anyone like our work? Fortunately, this first effort of ours was well-received.
Brad Galli featured us on television; Kevin Dietz twice interviewed me on radio; we twice presented at the U of D Mercy; we presented at the Farmington Hills Public Library celebrating MLK Day. Furthermore, we presented at multiple libraries , communities, businesses, and schools, Probably needless to repeat, I am bursting with pride over these accomplishments.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a good student and athlete. However, I was a big fish in a small pond until I enrolled at the University of Detroit High School. I probably was an underachiever in grade school as my teachers and parents urged me to try and work harder. I truly did not understand what they were talking about because I was an All A’s student except for Art. U of D High pushed me to my limits academically and athletically. Having to take two busses rain or shine or sleet or snow toughened me up. I gradually realized that I could conquer anything through self-reliance. I was terribly shy especially in speech class or other public speaking situations, Not any more. I learned to listen closely; I learned to ingratiate myself with all types of people.
I played football in grade school and high school. Because of this endeavor, I became physically tough and able to withstand a high level of pain. I also learned what it felt like to be on the bench which helped me in later years to understand all players on my teams.
But baseball was my forte! Summers were filled with practices and games. I thrived thanks to a mentor and coach named Larry Weis. All this dedication paid off as I was captain of our team at U of D High, received post season honors, and received a small scholarship to play baseball at Division I University of Detroit.
I gained a Bachelor of Art degree with a Major in English. I actually was quite the nerd enjoying grammar and punctuation which has been a blessing with writing these books.
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