MƆƆ mekɔ sukulu la ɛnee ninyɛne ɛtɛkakyile. Wɔ me sukulu ne anu, menli mɔɔ ɛ nee bɛ babɔ sukulu bo la a ɛ nee bɛ bawie a; ɛze menli dɔɔnwo mɔɔ wɔ sua ne azo la aluma yɛɛ bɛze wɔ ɛdeɛ.

Namule ngyikyi bikye sua Liberty, na abɛlɛ a bɛta bɛdua a. Mɔɔ bɛwole me la, ɛnee me papa yɛ gyima maa ɛyazonlɛnli bie mɔɔ wɔ ɛkɛ la. Mɔɔ melɛnyi la, menzukoale tractor ɛhanlɛ yɛɛ menwunle kɛzi bɛfa ɛya nu ninyɛne bie mɔ bɛdi gyima la kpalɛ.

Ɛnee me papa anye ɛvi. Me papa nyianle ɛvolɛ 56 yɛɛ me mame nyianle ɛvolɛ 35 na bɛawo me. Ɛnee me papa le ɛdenraa, ɔte kpɔkɛ yɛɛ ɛnee ɔ nye die gyima ɛsesebɛ ɛyɛlɛ nwo na ɔmaanle yɛdayɛ ngakula ne mɔ noko anye liele nwo. Yeannyia ezukoa dɔɔnwo, noko ɔmaanle yɛ dabelɛ, adɛladeɛ yɛɛ aleɛ​—ɔnyianle mekɛ ɔmaanle yɛ dahuu. Me papa nyianle ɛvolɛ 93 yɛɛ me mame nyianle ɛvolɛ 86 na bɛawu. Bɛanzonle Gyihova. Me diema nrenyia ko ala a ɛva nɔhalɛlilɛ ɛzonle kɛ asafo nu kpanyinli ɔvi mekɛ mɔɔ zɔhane ngyehyɛleɛ ne bɔle ɔ bo wɔ 1970 la.

Ɛnee me mame kulo Nyamenle ɛzonlenlɛ kpalɛ. Ɔ nee yɛ hɔle Baptist asɔne Molɛ biala. Menyianle  ɛvolɛ 12 la yɛɛ mendele Nsa-Ko Nyamenle ngilehilelɛ ne a. Ɛnee mekulo kɛ mete ɔ bo, ɔti membizale me mame kɛ: “Kɛzi Gyisɛse angome kola yɛ Ralɛ nee Selɛ ɛ?” Mekakye ye mualɛ ne: “Me ra ɔle fealera nu debie. Yɛnrɛhola yɛnrɛde ɔ bo.” Ɛnee ɔle fealera nu debie ɔmaa me. Noko, mɔɔ menyianle kɛyɛ ɛvolɛ 14 la, bɛzɔnenle me wɔ ɛkɛ ne asɔne bie anu​—bɛwulale me nzule nu fane nsa wɔ Nsa-Ko Nyamenle ne duma nu!

Mɔɔ mewɔ sukunwiɔ la, me gɔnwo bie mɔɔ ɔbɔ boxing ɔdie ezukoa la maanle me anwosesebɛ kɛ menyɛ bie. Ɔti membɔle ye ɛzukoalɛ bo, na mengɔmbokale eku bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Golden Gloves la anwo. Ɛnee menyɛ deɛ kpalɛ, ɔti mɔɔ membɔle ekyi la, mengyakyile. Nzinlii bɛvale me wɔ U.S. Sogya gyima nu na bɛ nee me hɔle Germany. Mɔɔ melɛyɛ gyima ne la, me mgbanyima ne mɔ nee me hɔle Noncommissioned Officers Academy sukulu ne anu, ɔluakɛ ɛnee bɛsuzu kɛ mebahola meali menli nyunlu. Ɛnee bɛkulo kɛ mefa sogyalilɛ meyɛ me gyima. Ɛnee mengulo kɛ meyɛ sogya gyima ne dahuu, ɔti ɛvolɛ nwiɔ mɔɔ mefa meazonle rale awieleɛ la bɛmaanle mengɔle anzodwolɛ nu wɔ 1956. Yeangyɛ, eza mengɔnyɛle sogya gyima fofolɛ.

Mekɛ ɛhye anu, menzukoale kɛ mebayɛ macho. Adwenle mɔɔ ɛnee bɛlɛ ye wɔ kɛzi ɔwɔ kɛ nrenyia yɛ ye nyɛleɛ mɔɔ bɛka nwolɛ edwɛkɛ wɔ vidio nu nee kpalɛ ne azo la nyianle me nwo zo tumi kpole. Menyianle adwenle kɛ menyia mɔɔ ka Nyamenle edwɛkɛ ne la anwo ɛnyɛ se kpalɛ. Noko, membɔle ɔ bo kɛ mesukoa ninyɛne bie mɔ mɔɔ hakyile me ɛbɛlabɔlɛ la. Kenle ko bie, ɛnee melɛka me kale kɔkɔlɛ ne, na mbɛlɛra nwiɔ yɛle me bye bye. Ɛnee meze bɛ​—nrenyia bie mɔɔ gyale me diema raalɛ kpanyinli ne la amediema ngakula ɔ. Mraalɛ nwiɔ ɛhye mɔ le Gyihova Alasevolɛ. Melie Ɛzinzalɛ Arane nee Awake! magazine ne bie wɔ bɛ ɛkɛ ɛlɛ, noko mendele nganeɛ kɛ Ɛzinzalɛ Arane ne abo ɛdelɛ yɛ se maa me. Mekɛ ɛhye anu, bɛdole ɛsalɛ bɛvɛlɛ me wɔ Asafo Buluku Ɛzukoalɛ bo, menli ekyi yia nu sukoa Baebolo ne na bɛsuzu nwo wɔ bɛ sua nu ɛkɛ. Menzele bɛ kɛ mebadwenle nwo. Ngakula mraalɛ ne mɔ vale ɛzelekɛ bizale me kɛ: “Ɛbɔ ɛwɔkɛ ɔ?” Mengale kɛ, “Ɛhɛe.”

Menunle me nwo kɛ membɔle ɛwɔkɛ zɔhane la, noko mendele nganeɛ kɛ menrɛhola menrɛhakyi me nloa. Ɔti, mengɔle zɔhane nɔsolɛ ne. Ngakula ne mɔ titili maanle me nye liele. Ɛnee menze kɛ bɛze Baebolo ne anu zɛhae! Molɛ asɔne ne mɔɔ me nee me mame hɔle la amuala anzi, Baebolo ne anu edwɛkɛ ekyi bie ala a meze a. Membɔle kpɔkɛ kɛ mebazukoa ninyɛne dɔɔnwo. Menganle kɛ bɛ nee me ɛzukoa Baebolo ne. Ɛnee menwu ye dɛba kɛ Nyamenle Tumivolɛ ne duma a le Gyihova. Mekɛ bie mɔɔ membizale Gyihova Alasevolɛ anwo edwɛkɛ wɔ me mame ɛkɛ la, ɔhanle kɛ, “Oo, bɛsonle nrenyia kpanyinli bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Gyihova la.” Noko, kɛkala mendele nganeɛ kɛ bɛlɛbuke me nye!

Menyianle anyuhɔlɛ ndɛndɛ, ɔluakɛ ɛnee menwu kɛ nɔhalɛ ne ɛne. Mengɔle ayia zɔhane mɔɔ limoa anzi siane mɔtwɛ la, bɛzɔnenle me wɔ March 1957. Me ɛbɛlabɔlɛ hakyile bɔkɔɔ. Saa medwenle me macho subane dɛba ne anwo a, ɔyɛ me fɛ kɛ mezukoa mɔɔ Baebolo ne ka fale subane mɔɔ ɔwɔ kɛ mrenyia da ye ali anwo la. Ɛnee Gyisɛse di munli. Anwosesebɛ nee tumi mɔɔ ɛnee ɔlɛ la, saa ɛfa nrenyia  biala mɔɔ le macho la ɛtoto ɔ nwo a, ɔnrɛdo ye fee. Noko, yeango ɛlɛ, emomu “bɛhilele ye nyane,” kɛ mɔɔ bɛhanle bɛdole ɛkɛ la. (Aye. 53:2, 7) Menzukoale kɛ ɔwɔ kɛ Gyisɛse nɔhalɛ ɛdoavolɛ yɛ “bɛtɛɛ ɔmaa menli kɔsɔɔti.”​—2 Tim. 2:24.

Membɔle adekpakyelɛ gyima ne abo wɔ ye ɛvolɛ bieko wɔ 1958. Noko, yeangyɛ, ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ megyakyi ye mekɛ ekyi. Duzu ati ɔ? Menzile kpɔkɛ kɛ mebagya Gloria mɔɔ le mraalɛ nwiɔ ne mɔɔ bɛdole ɛsalɛ bɛvɛlɛle me wɔ buluku debiezukoalɛ ne abo la anu ko! Metɛnunle me nwo ɛlɛ wɔ zɔhane kpɔkɛzilɛ ne anwo. Ɛnee Gloria le anwoneɛ na ɔtɛde zɔ. Wɔ me afoa nu, ɔsonle bolɛ ɔtɛla damɔno mɔɔ sonle bolɛ kpalɛ bɔbɔ la, ɔyɛ me fɛ kpole kɛ mengyale ye la! Maa ɔha ɔ nwo edwɛkɛ ekyi ɔhile wɔ:

“Yɛle ngakula 17. Ɛnee me mame le Dasevolɛ mɔɔ ɔdi nɔhalɛ. Menyianle ɛvolɛ 14 la yɛɛ ɔwule a. Mekɛ zɔhane a me papa bɔle ɔ bo kɛ ɔsukoa a. Mɔɔ me Mame wule la anzi, me Papa nee sukulu kpanyinli ne yɛle ngyehyɛleɛ bie. Ɛnee ɔka ekyi me diema raalɛ kpanyinli ne wie sukunwiɔ, na me Papa zɛlɛle ye saa ɔbamaa me nee ye ahɔ sukulu wɔ kenle bie mɔ anu wɔ dapɛne ne anu a? Yɛbahɔ ye ngoko amaa yɛ nuhua ko adɛnla sua nu na yɛanlea ngakula ngyikyi ne mɔ, yeado aleɛ mɔɔ abusua ne bali ye nɔsolɛ kolaa na yɛ Papa vi gyima nu ara. Sukulu kpanyinli ne liele dole nu, na ngyehyɛleɛ zɔhane hɔle zo too me mediema raalɛ ne wiele sukulu. Alasevolɛ mbusua nwiɔ a nee yɛ zukoale a, na yɛdayɛ ngakula 11 nyinli yɛle Gyihova Alasevolɛ. Ɛnee me nye die daselɛlilɛ ɛhɔlɛ nwo ɔnva nwo kɛ ɛnee mese nyiane la. Sam ɛboa me wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo anu.”

Me nee Gloria gyale wɔ February 1959. Yɛvale anyelielɛ yɛbɔle nu yɛyɛle adekpakyelɛ gyima ne. Wɔ July 1959, yɛbizale Bɛtɛle ɛzonlenlɛ nwo adenle, ɔluakɛ ɛnee yɛkulo kɛ yɛkɔsonle wɔ ewiade amuala gyima ne ati. Adiema nrenyia Simon Kraker bizebizale yɛ edwɛkɛ. Ɔzele yɛ kɛ zɔhane mekɛ ne Bɛtɛle ɛnva agyalɛma. Ɛhulolɛ mɔɔ yɛlɛ kɛ yɛbazonle wɔ Bɛtɛle la amminli​—noko ɔhyɛle na yeara nu!

Yɛhɛlɛle ewiade amuala gyima ne ati kɛ, yɛkulo kɛ yɛkɔsonle wɔ ɛleka mɔɔ bɛhyia moalɛ kpole la. Ɛleka ko ala a bɛhanle kɛ yɛhɔ a: Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Mekɛ zɔhane, ɛnee asafo nwiɔ ala a wɔ Pine Bluff a​—alɔfolɛ yɛɛ abile. Bɛ nee yɛ hɔle abile asafo nu, na ɛnee nolobɔlɛma 14 pɛ a wɔ ɛkɛ a.

Bie a ɛbabiza ɛ nwo deɛmɔti menli nu nyeyenu kɔ zo wɔ Gyihova Alasevolɛ asafo ne mɔ anu la. Mualɛ ne sikalɛ a le kɛ, zɔhane mekɛ ne, ɛnee nwolɛ adenle ekyi bie a awie lɛ kpa mɔɔ ɔkulo a. Ɛnee ɔtia mɛla kɛ menli ekpunli ngakyile babɔ nu ayia, yɛɛ ɛnee bɛta bɛyɛ basabasa. Wɔ ɛleka dɔɔnwo, ɛnee mediema ne mɔ sulo kɛ saa menli ekpunli nwiɔ bɔ nu sonle a, bɛbazɛkye bɛ Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo ne. Ɛnee ninyɛne zɛhae mɔ ta si. Saa Alasevolɛ mɔɔ bɛle abile la yɛ azua nu daselɛlilɛ wɔ ɛleka mɔɔ alɔfolɛ de la a, bɛbahye bɛ​—bie bɔbɔ a bɛbabo bɛ. Ɔti, amaa yɛayɛ daselɛlilɛ gyima ne la, yɛlile mɛla zo, na yɛmaanle yɛ nye lale kɛ ninyɛne bayɛ boɛ.

Ɛnee yɛ ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne lɛ ye ngyegyelɛ ɛdeɛ. Mekɔ mɔɔ yɛlɛdi daselɛ wɔ abile azɛlɛsinli nu la, bie a yɛ nye ɛnla ɛnee yɛhɔbɔ alɔfolɛ abusua bie anlenkɛ nu. Ɔba ye zɔ a, ɔwɔ kɛ yɛsi kpɔkɛ ndɛndɛ kɛ yɛbaha Ngɛlɛlera ne anu edwɛkɛ ekyi anzɛɛ yɛbalie yɛ nvonleɛ yɛado nu na yɛadoa zo. Mekɛ zɔhane, kɛ ɛnee ɔde ye wɔ ɛleka bie mɔ la ɛne.

Nɔhalɛ nu, ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ yɛyɛ gyima ɛsesebɛ yɛnea yɛ nwo wɔ adekpakyelɛ gyima ne nu. Ɛnee ezukoa ekyi bie a bɛfa bɛmaa yɛ wɔ gyima dɔɔnwo mɔɔ yɛyɛ la anwo a. Gloria nyianle sua nu ɛziezielɛ gyima ekyi. Bɛmaanle me adenle wɔ ɛleka ko kɛ memboa ye amaa yɛava mekɛ foa yɛawie. Bɛmaanle yɛ ewiazo aleɛ​—me nee Gloria lile kolaa na yɛahɔ. Gloria to abusua bie adɛladeɛ zo dapɛne biala. Menyɛle gyima wɔ awuke nu, mekyikyi nvɛnzɛlɛ nu yɛɛ gyima gyɛne. Wɔ alɔfolɛ abusua bie sua nu, yɛkyikyile nvɛnzɛlɛ nu​—Gloria yɛle ɔ kunlu yɛɛ menyɛle ɔ nzi. Yɛyɛle gyima ne kenle ne amuala, ɔti bɛmaanle yɛ ewiazo aleɛ. Gloria lile ye ɛdeɛ ne wɔ sua ne anu noko ɔ nee abusua ne andɛnla nwo, yɛɛ menlile me ɛdeɛ ne wɔ alie nwo wɔ ɛleka mɔɔ bɛsie bɛ kale la. Yeangyegye me. Ɛnee aleɛ ne yɛ fɛ kpalɛ. Ɛnee abusua ne lɛ atiakunlukɛnlɛma; noko ɛnee mgbakyemgbakyenu a le bɛ ngyegyelɛ a. Mekakye  kɛ mekɛ bie yɛhɔle kɛ yɛkadɔ patulo. Mɔɔ ahenle bule wiele la, membizale ye saa Gloria bahola ayɛ ɔ nwo boɛ wɔ bɛ abialeɛ ne a. Ɔbule me anyehoanlɛ na ɔhanle kɛ, “Bɛdo nu.”

Noko yɛ nee yɛ mediema bɔle nu liele yɛ nye, yɛɛ ɛnee yɛ nye die yɛ ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anwo! Mɔɔ yɛlimoa yɛhɔle Pine Bluff la, yɛhɔdɛnlanle adiema nrenyia bie mɔɔ ɛnee le asafo sonvolɛ la sua nu. Ɛnee ɔ ye ɛnle diedinli, na Gloria nee ye bɔle Baebolo ɛzukoalɛ bo. Medame noko me nee agyalɛma ne ara raalɛ nee ɔ hu bɔle debiezukoalɛ bo. Ninli ne nee ɔ ra raalɛ ne zile kpɔkɛ kɛ bɛbazonle Gyihova na bɛzɔnenle bɛ.

Yɛnyianle agɔnwolɛma mgbalɛ wɔ alɔfolɛ asafo ne anu. Ɔyɛ a bɛto ɛsalɛ bɛfɛlɛ yɛ kɛ yɛrali aleɛ wɔ bɛ sua nu, noko yɛyɛ ye nɔɔzo. Ɛnee ahyehyɛdeɛ bie mɔɔ bɛsi nyeyenu nee basabasayɛlɛ adua mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ bɛ Ku Klux Klan (KKK), la anye ɛbolo kpalɛ wɔ mekɛ zɔhane. Mekakye kɛ, kenle ko nɔsolɛ bie menwunle nrenyia bie kɛ ɔde ye abenlana ne anyunlu yɛɛ ɔwula KKK anu amra tɛladeɛ ne bie. Noko ɛhye annzi mediema ne mɔ adenle kɛ bɛbala atiakunlukɛnlɛmayɛlɛ ali. Mekɛ bie, wɔ wawaa mekɛ nu, ɛnee yɛhyia ezukoa mɔɔ yɛbava yɛahɔ nyianu la, na adiema nrenyia bie liele dole nu kɛ ɔbadɔ yɛ 1950 Ford ne amaa yɛahola yɛahɔ. Kenle ko bie mɔɔ yɛdiale ewia kpole ne anu yɛhɔyɛle azua nu daselɛlilɛ nee Baebolo ɛzukoalɛ wɔ ye siane ko anzi la, yɛvɛle kpalɛ. Akee yɛranwunle azibɛnwo debie bie wɔ sua nu. Yɛ kale ne a bɛva bɛrazie yɛ sua ne anyunlu la! Ɛnee kɛlata bie la ɔ nyunlu neanleɛ ne azo, ɔkenga kɛ: “Bɛbahola bɛazia bɛava bɛ kale ne kɛ ahyɛlɛdeɛ mɔɔ vi me ɛkɛ. Bɛ diema.”

Atiakunlukɛnlɛmayɛlɛ bieko mɔɔ me rɛle ɛnrɛvi ye ɛlɛ la. Wɔ 1962, bɛzele me kɛ membɛla Belemgbunlililɛ Gyima Sukulu mɔɔ bɛbayɛ ye wɔ South Lansing, New York la bie. Ɛnee ɔle siane ko ndetelɛ mɔɔ bɛfa bɛamaa bɛdabɛ mɔɔ bɛle neavolɛma wɔ asafo, maangyebakyi nee maangyeba ne mɔ anu la. Mɔɔ me sa hanle ɛsalɛdolɛ kɛlata ne la ɛnee menyɛ gyima, ɔti ɛnee me nwo kyele me wɔ ezukoa afoa nu. Noko, telefonu kɔmpɛlɛ bie mɔɔ wɔ Pine Bluff la bizebizale me edwɛkɛ kɛ bɛbava me gyima nu. Saa bɛfa me a, medame a mebayɛ abile mɔɔ ɛlɛdimoa ayɛ gyima amaa kɔmpɛlɛ ne a. Awieleɛ bɔkɔɔ ne, bɛzele me kɛ bɛbava me gyima nu. Duzu a mebayɛ a? Ɛnee menlɛ ezukoa mɔɔ mebava meahɔ New York a. Menyɛle me adwenle kɛ mebayɛ gyima ne na meakpo sukulu ɛsalɛdolɛ ne. Nɔhalɛ nu, ɛnee melɛba meahɛlɛ kɛlata meakpo ɛsalɛdolɛ ne yɛɛ debie bie mɔɔ me rɛle ɛnrɛvi ye ɛlɛ la zile a.

Adiema raalɛ bie mɔɔ wɔ yɛ asafo ne anu, mɔɔ ɔ hu ɛnle diedinli la rabɔle yɛ anlenkɛ nu kenle ko nwonlomɔ mangyee ne na ɔvale ɛnvulopu bie ɔmaanle me. Ɛnee ezukoa dɔɔnwo wɔ nu. Ɔ nee ɔ mra ngakula bie mɔ dwazo ndɛ kɔ ɛbɔ nu bɛkɔtete asawa​—na bɛbɔ ndile mɔɔ ɛlɛfifi wɔ ɛya ne anu la amaa bɛanyia ezukoa dodo mɔɔ mebahola meava meahɔ New York la. Ɔhanle kɛ: “Kɔ sukulu na bɔ mɔdenle sukoa debie kpalɛ, na bɛla bahilehile yɛ!”  Nzinlii, membizale telefonu kɔmpɛlɛ ne kɛ saa mebahola meabɔ gyima bo dapɛne nnu anzi emomu a. Bɛhanle kɛ, “Kyɛkyɛ!” Noko yeangyegye me. Ɛnee mezi me kpɔkɛ. Ɔyɛ me fɛ kɛ meanyɛ gyima zɔhane la!

Ɛhye a maa Gloria kakye mekɛ mɔɔ yɛlile ye wɔ Pine Bluff la: “Me nye liele azɛlɛsinli ne anwo! Menyianle Baebolo sukoavoma 15 mɔɔ kɔdwu 20. Ɔti, yɛyɛ azua nu daselɛlilɛ nwonlomɔ nu na yɛava mekɛ mɔɔ ɛha la yɛayɛ Baebolo ɛzukoalɛ, ɔyɛ a yɛkpɔne nɔsolɛ 11:00. Ɛnee daselɛlilɛ yɛ anyelielɛ kpalɛ! Ɛnee mengulo kɛ megyakyi gyima zɔhane. Mebaha kɛ ɛnee mengulo kɛ mekakyi me gyimalilɛ ne na meyɛ maangyebakyi gyima, noko ɛnee asolo mɔɔ Gyihova ɛlɛdwenle nwolɛ la.” Ɔyɛle zɔ noko.

Mɔɔ ɛnee yɛlɛyɛ adekpakyelɛ wɔ Pine Bluff la, yɛbizale adekpakyelɛ titili nwo adenle. Yɛ anyelazo ne yɛle kpole, ɔluakɛ yɛ maangyeba zo neavolɛ ne hanle kɛ ɔkulo kɛ yɛkɔboa asafo bie mɔɔ wɔ Texas la, na ɔkulo kɛ yɛkɔ ɛkɛ ne kɛ adekpakyelɛ titilima. Ɛhye maanle yɛ nye liele kpalɛ. Ɔti, yɛhendɛle dedee kɛ yɛbanyia kɛlata yɛavi Ahyehyɛdeɛ ne ɛkɛ, noko yɛanyia bie. Akee yɛ sa hanle kɛlata kenle ko bie​—bɛzele yɛ kɛ yɛhɔyɛ neavolɛ adendulɛ gyima! Ɛnee ɔle January 1965. Zɔhane mekɛ ne bɛkpale Adiema Leon Weaver mɔɔ kɛkala le United States Bɛtɛle ne Ɔfese Kɔmatii ne ngitanwodivolɛ la kɛ maangyebakyi zo neavolɛ.

Ɛnee mesulo kɛ mebayɛ maangyebakyi zo neavolɛ. Kɛyɛ ɛvolɛ ko nee ɔ nzi mɔɔ ɛpɛ nu la, James A. Thompson, Jr. mɔɔ le maangyeba zo neavolɛ la nleɛnleanle me nwo edwɛkɛ nu saa mefɛta a. Ɔvile atiakunlukɛnlɛma nu ɔhanle ninyɛne bie mɔ mɔɔ mebahola meanyia anyuhɔlɛ wɔ nu la na ɔhanle subane mɔɔ mebahyia amaa meayɛ maangyebakyi zo neavolɛ kpalɛ la. Mɔɔ menyɛle maangyebakyi gyima ne mekɛ ekyi la, menwunle kɛ ye folɛdulɛ ne anwo hyia kpalɛ. Mɔɔ bɛkpale me la, Adiema Thompson a le maangyeba zo neavolɛ mɔɔ limoa mɔɔ me nee ye bɔle nu zonlenle a. Menzukoale ninyɛne dɔɔnwo menvile adiema zɔhane mɔɔ ɛnyi sunsum nu na ɔdi nɔhalɛ la ɛkɛ.

Mekɛ zɔhane, ɛnee mekɛ ekyi bie a bɛfa bɛtete maangyebakyi zo neavolɛ a. Menvale dapɛne ko meneanle maangyebakyi zo neavolɛ ko wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ ɔlɛsonle asafo ko la. Na ɔdaye noko ɔfa dapɛne mɔɔ doa ye la ɔnea me wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ melɛsonle asafo gyɛne la. Ɔvale nzuzulɛ nee adehilelɛ ɔmaanle me. Yemɔ anzi, awie biala dele ɔ nwo. Mekakye kɛ menganle mengilele Gloria kɛ, “Asoo amgba ɔwɔ kɛ ɔkɔ kɛkala ɔ?” Noko nzinlii, menwunle debie mɔɔ anwo hyia la. Ɛbanyia mediema mrenyia  mɔɔ bɛlɛ anwubielɛ mɔɔ bɛbaboa wɔ la dahuu​—saa ɛmaa bɛ adenle a. Me nye sɔ kɛzi mediema le kɛ J. R. Brown, mɔɔ ɛnee le neavolɛ adenduvo yɛɛ Fred Rusk mɔɔ boka Bɛtɛle abusua ne anwo mɔɔ bɛlɛ anwubielɛ boale me la kpalɛ.

Ɛnee menli nu nyeyenu ɛlɛkɔ zo kpalɛ wɔ mekɛ zɔhane. Kenle ko bie, KKK ne anu amra hɔdole nzaka wɔ sua ne mɔɔ yɛkakpɔla ɛkɛ ne amra wɔ Tennessee la. Mekakye mekɛ fofolɛ noko mɔɔ daselɛlilɛ ekpunli ne gyinlanle aleɛlilɛleka bie kɛ bɛdie bɛ menle la. Mɔɔ mekayɛ me nwo boɛ wɔ mrenyia abialeɛ ne la, menwunle kɛ nrenyia anyinlima bie mɔɔ bɛhɛlɛhɛlɛ ɔ nwo la doa me. Noko, adiema nrenyia bolɔfolɛ ko mɔɔ ɔle belane ɔtɛla me nee nrenyia ne mɔɔ li me nzi la noko doale yɛ. Ɔbizale me kɛ, “Adiema Herd, debie biala le bɛtɛɛ ɔ?” Ahenle mɔɔ ɛnee li me nzi la vindele ndɛndɛ ne ala. Wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo mɔɔ ɛpɛ nu la, menwu kɛ menli nu nyeyenu ɛnvale kɛzi awie nwonane ne de la anwo; ɛtane mɔɔ yɛnyianle yɛvile Adam ɛkɛ la a maa ɔba ye zɔ a. Eza menwu kɛ adiema le adiema, ɔnva nwo kɛzi ɔ nwo nane de la, saa ɔwɔ kɛ ɔwu ɔmaa wɔ bɔbɔ a, ɔbayɛ zɔ.

Yɛvale ɛvolɛ 33 yɛyɛle neavolɛ adendulɛ gyima ne, yɛɛ yɛvale nuhua 21 yɛyɛle maangyeba gyima. Yɛnyianle nyilalɛ nee anwubielɛ ngɛnlɛma dɔɔnwo mɔɔ maa anwosesebɛ wɔ mekɛ zɔhane anu. Ɛnee nyilalɛ fofolɛ noko lua adenle zo ɛlɛba. Wɔ August 1997, bodane mɔɔ ɛnee gyi yɛ nye zo mekɛ tendenle la rale nu. Ɔvi mekɛ mɔɔ yɛlimoa yɛbizale nwolɛ adenle la​—ye ɛvolɛ kɛyɛ 38 anzi, bɛdole ɛsalɛ bɛvɛlɛle yɛ wɔ United States Bɛtɛle. Ye siane bieko, yɛbɔle Bɛtɛle ɛzonlenlɛ bo. Me adwenle yɛle me kɛ neavolɛma mɔɔ wɔ Bɛtɛle ɛkɛ la kulo kɛ mefa mekɛ ekyi meboa gyimayɛlɛ bie, noko yɛamba ye zɔ.

Bɛ nee me limoa hɔle Ɛzonlenlɛ Nwo Gyimalilɛleka ne. Menzukoale ninyɛne dɔɔnwo. Mediema mɔɔ wɔ ɛkɛ la di edwɛkɛ nee kpuya mɔɔ yɛ se mɔɔ mgbanyima eku nee maangyebakyi zo neavolɛma mɔɔ wɔ maanle ne anu fa to bɛ nyunlu la anwo gyima. Me nye sɔ kɛzi bɛzile abotane bɛboale me wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ ɛnee bɛlɛtete me la. Noko, mete nganeɛ kɛ, saa bɛfa me bɛkɔ ɛkɛ ne bieko a, mebayɛ sukoavo.

Me nee Gloria anye die Bɛtɛle ɛzonlenlɛ nwo kpalɛ. Yɛdwazo ndɛ dahuu, na subane zɔhane boa wɔ Bɛtɛle kpalɛ. Kɛyɛ ɛvolɛ ko nee ɔ nzi, membɔle ɔ bo kɛ mesonle kɛ Gyihova Alasevolɛ Neazo Eku ne Ɛzonlenlɛ Kɔmatii ne boavolɛ. Akee wɔ 1999, bɛkpale me bɛbokale Neazo Eku ne anwo. Mezukoa ninyɛne dɔɔnwo wɔ gyimalilɛ ɛhye anu, noko ɛzukoalɛdeɛ mɔɔ limoa la a le kɛ Gyisɛse Kelaese​—tɛ dasanli biala​—a le Kilisiene asafo ne ati a.

Saa meto me nye me nzi a, ɔyɛ a mete nganeɛ kɛ ngapezonli Emɔso la. Gyihova nwunle zɔhane mboaneneavolɛ bɛlɛvo ne mɔɔ nea sekamɔ feege mbaka​—mɔɔ bɛbu ye kɛ ɔle ehyiavolɛma aleɛ la. Nyamenle kpale Emɔso kɛ ngapezonli, Nyamenle ɛzonlenlɛ nu gyimalilɛ mɔɔ sonle bolɛ. (Emɔso 7:14, 15) Zɔhane ala a medame noko, Gyihova nwunle me, ɛyazonlɛnli ehyiavolɛ ara nrenyia mɔɔ vi Liberty, Indiana, na yeyila me too mɔɔ mengola ye tia bɔbɔ a! (Mrɛ. 10:22) Mete nganeɛ kɛ membɔle ɔbo kɛ ehyianli wɔ nwonane afoa nu, noko me meyɛ sunsum nu sukoavolɛ medɛla kɛzi ɛnee mesuzu la!