“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough, fast enough, or smart enough. You need to find out what to do to make the right decisions to achieve your goals.”
Bobby Mitchell, Cleveland Browns
February 7, 2013 Gabrielle Blake’s grade 8 class viewed a live panel discussion in recognition of Black History Month. “Lessons From The Past: Overcoming Challenges of Racial Barriers,” moderated by Pro Football Hall of Fame President/Executive Director, Steve Perry. The panel included Cleveland Browns alumni and NFL players: John Wooten, Bobby Mitchell, Paul Wiggin and Greg Pruitt.
The players shared stories about what is was like to grow up during a time under the shadow of Jim Crow laws and the burgeoning civil rights movement.
Bobby Mitchell, halfback and flanker for the Browns, told how he didn’t know if he was going to pick cotton for the rest of his life or go to school. He was offered a scholarship at the University of Illinois and traveled north to college in a train’s caboose because he wasn’t allowed to sit with white people. He lived alone in the campus parade baracks because he wasn’t allowed to live in the dorms or have a white roommate. He didn’t even know if he was a good enough football player or would be asked to play on the team.
He spoke with difficulty about this experience, with tears in his eyes, but then said,
“We must move forward. We achieve the things we have on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.”
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough, fast enough, or smart enough. You need to find out what to do, to make the right decisions to achieve your goals.”
John Wooten, guard for the Cleveland Browns, said, “Carry yourself in such a respectful manner that no one can use the race card against you.”
“You need to be prepared. Have optimism. Many kids today lack optimism. Don’t just wish (for something). If you really want to achieve your dreams, then figure out how to work for it. Have goals, figure out what you need to do to move forward. Don’t make a bad choice that will move you away from your goals. You have to make sure that you make right choices to move towards your goals.”
Greg Pruitt, running back for the Cleveland Browns, said his greatest achievement was getting a good education. His mom is his hero. She was the disciplinarian. Reflecting on life, he decided to listen what his mom told him, “Find the people who love you and who will give you good advice.”
He added, “When you work you are painting a portrait of yourself and you want that portrait to be beautiful.”
Paul Wiggin, defensive end for the Browns, said that when you’re part of a football team race doesn’t matter. That’s what he loves about sports. The camarderie is a vital part of life. He advised to take the word ‘impossible’ out of the dictionary. Program yourself to what you want to do. You get the idea that you can do it, athletics or medicine.
Steve Perry closed by saying, “Everyone in this room will get knocked down. The question is whether you will have the character to persevere.”
We greatly appreciate these Heart of Famer series offered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many thanks to Jerry Csaki for organizing the video conferences.
March 14, 2013. Diane DiAmbrosio’s grade 8 AVID class talked with Chris Doleman, courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, about the 6 Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. 
