What is a hero?

Tough question. It requires an even tougher answer. Heroes "save the day." This may sound like a cliche, but it is true. Saving the day may come in various guises from the literal interpretation that makes us stand in awe to the inspiration and motivation that makes us rise to our individual or collective occasions, making us a better person--even if only for a few moments. Heroes are strong. Heroes are humble. Heroes are at times unexpected. One thing they all have in common is that they "step up to the plate" when no one else will. They represent the best of and in us.

Many heroes are unsung. This is true for at least one of my heroes, John Tansely, my maternal grandfather. He stepped up to the plate simply by persevering. Few people can understand what it was like for Black men of my grandfather's generation to exist during Jim Crow America. He played baseball in the Negro leagues, yet his athleticism was largely unrecognized. He loved tennis. While I was never any good at it, I wanted to play because he did. He was a DJ, a singer, and as my grandmother always said, "a great dancer." That might be why she married him. They used to jitterbug all night long. More importantly, my grandfather was also a veteran of World War II. He came back from the Philippines and worked at a dry cleaners. ABC Dry cleaners. He worked in the back where the big machines (the dryers?) and fumes from the cleaning fluid added more heat to the already scorching southern day. We would often go see him at work, shirtless in the intense heat, body glistening with sweat. I remember those days fondly because his face would always light up when the owners would tell us we were at the shop. Now that I am older, I can also put into context the challenges he overcame. He was never "Mr. Tansley," but "Johnny."Because of him, I received a commission in the United States Army Reserve. Instead of wearing my civilian clothes home, I wore my uniform. My husband knew we had to stop by my grandparents' house first. It was important that he see me with my gold bars. He was the reason I positioned the face of my watch under my wrist.