Dr. McConnell

Dr. McConnell talked us about his experiences growing up in the Delta. I thought it was really great to get a first-hand perspective of what it was like growing up in extreme poverty but still growing up to be successful and eventually breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the Delta. One of the most interesting things about Dr. McConnell's talk was his explanation of why he was able to get out of poverty. Many of the speakers we've had have discussed the downside that comes with having a single-parent family in the Delta and the manner in which the educational level of one's family members often indicate the level of education an individual in the family will reach.

Although Dr. McConnell grew up in a single-parent home and his mom never went to college he was able to overcome the stereotypes of the Delta by having a wide family support system and because his mother realized the value of education. Dr. McConnell discussed the 3 women in his life who helped make him the man he is today, namely his mother, and his two grandmothers: Madea (maternal) and Big Momma (paternal). One of the most interesting things about the influence that Big Momma had on Dr. McConnell's life was the fact that she remained in his life despite the fact that his father was not around. Dr. McConnell noted that Big Momma never deserted his family in the same way that his father had because she knew that her son was at fault and she still wanted to be a part of his and his brother's lives. Dr. McConnell also described a wide network of aunts and uncles who often took care of him and his brother when his mom had to work. I think that Dr. McConnell's description of his family confounds the stereotype that the Delta is controlled by the presence of broken homes. Despite the fact that his mother was a single parent, Dr. McConnell's family was far from broken and the presence of a large loving family has been one of the keys to his success.

Another point that Dr. McConnell made was that although his mother never went farther than high school in her own education she was very cognizant of the importance of education and instilled this in her sons. He said that his mother told them that after high school they had to do something, either go to college or join the military, and she wouldn't except grades lower than B's. In this sense, the boys were never allowed to be complacent with their education and always saw the purpose of their education as a stepping stone to something else.

I think Dr. McConnell's success story challenges stories of people who grow up in the Delta. In many ways the conditions that Dr. McConnell grew up under are very similar to many in the Delta, but he was able to overcome this by having a strong family network and a mother who cared about her sons' education.