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Wayne Ford overcame obstacles to success(Continued from page one)Ford said.Ford described himself as “a young J.D. who rose to become a leader in one of the whitest states in America.”“I came from one of the worst in life to one of the best in life,” Ford said.But Ford said he never could have achieved his rise without his family in Wilson.“If my sister (Antonio Ford) had not stayed in Wilson to take care of my parents, I don’t know where I would be now,” he said.“I couldn’t have done it without Antonio; she is also part of the American Dream,” he added.Ford hopes his life experiences relayed through Rather’s book will show people, young and old, black and white, rich and poor, that politicians are real people with real life experiences.“Let the young folks who have given up on their dreams see that they can still make it. Let my story clearly show that you can take that goodness and fulfill your dreams. The forces of evil will always prevail in this world if enough good men do nothing.” Ford wants to convey the message that it is important for theadults in America to do the right things and be exceptional role models for today’s youths.“If we can start doing right, the next generation will be the best generation ever,” Ford said.“This book is really for the young people. I hope this book can make them recognize that good work can get them far.”And Ford has indeed come far.In addition to his three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and the opening of Urban Dreams, Ford played host to the only minority presidential forum in the country. He also addressed the Democratic National Convention last summer in Los Angeles.And he isn’t done yet.He hopes to bring Urban Dreams into the heart of Wilson. Ford has been in ongoing discussions about the project with N.C. Rep. Milton F. “Toby” Fitch of Wilson.When that dream becomes reality, he hopes to locate the community center near the site of the store of his late father, Whiley Ford, near Pender Street.“Every time I come back to Wilson, I see the increase in black-on-black crime, the increase in murder. We must takebuilding by building and take the urban areas back,” Ford said, his voice rising to a crescendo. “There are a lot of Wayne Fords in Wilson, looking for a way out.”Ford offered his mantra to those looking for a better way of life: “If you can feel it, if you can conceive it, you can do it.”“Let’s turn these young, disillusioned folks into taxpayers instead of tax-breakers,” Ford said.For his book, Rather chose people whom he believed lived through some aspect of the American dream.“There is no typical American and no typical American Dream ... but however we define it, it defines us as a people,” wrote Rather.While he doesn’t know how he was chosen by Rather to be profiled in his book. Ford has certainly lived the dream.Ford’s colleague Bruce Wilson summed up Ford’s version of the American Dream nicely:“He came from a black ghetto to become Iowa’s only black legislator. He is someone who has beaten the odds.”You may reach Alex Keown at alexjk@ wilsondaily.com
Newspaper Details
Wilson Daily Times
Wilson, North Carolina, US
Thu, May 17, 2001
Page 2
Full Page
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Wilson C.
NC, USA 08 May 2025
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