In loving, living memory, John Melançon 1928 – 2007
Mom saw Ellis Clarke talk. She didn't remember the name when telling me but ambassador from trinidad & tobago 1965 meant there's no question.
She said he was an amazing speaker, expressed a love like unto the Dalai Lama. He went on to become the country's president and is still alive and the most venerated political leader.
"And I must say, too, my exposure to black people was very limited back then. There were a lot of Polish people" [in Webster].
Grandpa ended up in a club in Providence that was all black, in 1951, and saw Louis Armstrong play. Got some looks from the people there. Didn't realize he was the only white face until he was seated.