A Tribute to John Hope Franklin--letter to Observer

To The Editor:

No matter how you plan to cover whatever ceremonies will be be held for John Hope Franklin, understand at the outset that it won't be enough, so be content with that. Given who this man was, all you can do is the best you can do.

This irreplaceable mountain of a man will not be along again. He has left us. Those of us privileged to have read his works and to have met and spoken with him, are the better for it, but still, he leaves us without due notice, and in the lurch. Courage? He was what all of us aspire to be and can never be and so, fellow men, accept that. I asked him one evening how could it be. ..how was he able to manage his life and all that he had accomplished, and not be an angry man. He smiled kindly and responded simply "How, you ask? With difficulty."

Yours truly,

Bernie Hargadon 435 S, Tryon St. #606Charlotte, NC 28202704 377 5305