The Mighty Glenn

To my dearest friend,

The summer of 1998 was a weird one for me. I was 14 years old back then, so I didn’t truly understand how I longed for structure in my life. My anxiety was kinda buzzing as I walked up the stairs of Dunbar Vocational Career Academy. I was so used to the way an elementary school day was scheduled. I was unsure of my new horizon. My cousins made me think it was every man for themselves in high school. So of course I was nervous. A couple of days before I went to the school, I was invited to join the freshman football team by then-freshman team coach Patrick Jerome. Coach Pat called me & told me to come up to the school and see if I would like it. So, there I was ready to embark on the next steps of my life. In search of worthiness or a feeling of belonging. Unbeknownst to you at the time, I had a rough childhood. My biological father was verbally & physically abusive towards me. I still loved my father & wanted nothing from him but to love & be proud of me. My father had a rough upbringing as well. He was part of the Great Black Migration, being he was born in Mississippi in the 30s and then moved to Chicago as a young boy. My grandfather was an actual slave in Clarksdale, MS & beat that hopelessness and despair as a father into mine. My father would tell me how my grandfather would “whoop” him & that I got off easy. I digress, back to our first meeting! So, the summer of 1998 at the steps of Dunbar High School on the southside of Chicago stands me. I’m kinda scared yet hopeful I find a safe place to grow. I enter the doors by the foyer & there you are, sitting with Dr. Hall. I introduced myself to you both & asked if I could speak to the freshman football coach. Dr. Hall informs me that you are the head football coach & your name is Glenn Johnson. I already knew this from going to the Prep Bowl (Chicago’s Football City Championship) in ‘97 & ‘96 with my park district Taekwondo team. I was a fan of the school’s mascot. It was an ancient Egyptian King & Queen called the Mightymen & Women. You looked me up & down & told me I was an offensive lineman. I only played linebacker in elementary school, so I disagreed. You were humored by my talking points. Later on, in my sophomore year, you told me since you met me you believed I was very smart. I could tell by our first conversation. You held such a mean, stand-off, commanding, intimidating nature to everyone else but I swear I thought you were funny from the beginning! You took me on a tour of the first two floors of the school. We talked about sports, the city neighborhoods, & music. Then we ended at the athletic area of the school. You took me into the main gym where a lot of championship banners hung. You asked me what program had the most banners. I said football which did by a landslide. You shrugged your shoulders and walked off saying I’ll see you around Scruggs.

You of all people know I was a knucklehead when I was young. Before you were my biggest influence in life I have to say Jay-Z was. Still today, Jay-Z inspires me. At the time of my sophomore year in high school though, I desired a more gangster mystic not knowing that it was my rebelliousness against the status quo I was feeling. By this time, you & I have gotten close. I was not on varsity yet, but I was always around the upper-class team because I helped you with numerous things. You usually had young ladies as managers of varsity, but I would help on the sidelines on varsity games & wash every level team’s uniforms. I didn’t mind staying after practice & helping because of our talks. It also kept me out of the streets & away from my father. My sophomore team was very good & I was a starter. I remember one of my teammates asking me why I wash the uniforms & I said someone’s gotta do it. You heard that conversation & tried to give me 20 dollars. I sold marijuana, so I showed you I had some money & the reason I did those chores was that I love the team. Later on, in my sophomore year, I was leaving out of the locker room & heard a voice say, “You’re not doing the right things!” The words pierced my soul! I walked back to your office door & listened. You were listening to a tape of Malcolm X. I asked you who was that & you looked shocked and told me to sit down! We let the tape rock till the tape popped! I was so geeked up by the two speeches I heard. You then gave me that tape & two others of Malcolm X & that changed my life. After a few weeks of listening to those tapes all the time, I start calling you Pops. I didn’t listen to music the same. I didn’t look at the world the same. My eyes were so widened, and it was because you pushed me to seek more understanding!

One day before the end of my sophomore year we had a conversation that rocked my core. I told you everything that happened to me & my sophomore year was very eventful. I got shot, I got severely beat up by three guys in the school, and we were the first-ever sophomore football city champ in school history. Needless to say, I won’t forget that year, but this event stuck out more than hot metal ripping through my body! I was coming down the stairs to the locker room and you were in the laundry room. You screamed out, “Dickey Scruggs, Dickey Scruggs, Dickey Scruggs Scruggs Scruggs.” Little did I know this would be your greeting for me for many years to come. I said, “Wow Pops that’s a tad bit inappropriate” in a joking way. You then tell me of a southern lawyer who fought the tobacco industry & won! Counselor Richard “Dickey” Scruggs was one of the first lawyers to win cases proving the harm that is caused by cigarettes. You always acknowledged how smart I was to you, but I’ve never been flattered like that before. It was probably the best compliment I ever got in my life. To be nicknamed after such a historic figure was crazy. Everyone made fun of my last name! You made me see pride in it! I respect you so much & couldn’t understand the level of respect you had for me, a 15-year-old. WOW!

As an artist, I do my best to turn a mirror into the face of society! Righteousness is the central thesis of most of my art! I consider Stan Lee & you Coach as the biggest spiritual influences in my life. You help shape my moral compass! Without you, I wouldn’t understand brotherhood or love! Without you, I wouldn’t have a thirst for the true history of my people! Without you, I wouldn’t have seen any worthiness in myself! It truly takes a village to raise a child and you proved this in my lifetime by your actions! I’m not the only young man or woman you’ve influenced either! I saw plenty of young men die in the streets with no proper guidance. I see people believe anything, even a blatant lie, due to a lack of self-awareness! I live by so many of your quotes as if it was gospel!

“Do a job big or small, do it well or not at all!”

“When you’re early you’re on time but when you’re on time you’re late!”

These are etched in my soul as life principles. You’ve made me a better father, a better mentor, & a better artist because of the standards you taught me! You considered me your friend while I still attended high school and I still have to disagree with you, sir. You are one of my fathers. I have the utmost respect for my elders & I’m honored that you considered me a friend. I love you & miss you so much Pops! Rest well 💙💛🦾