Feb 11

Feb 11 Black History Month: Cathy's Creative Corner - First by Default

You know, you can actually learn something new every day. Until a spokesperson called from Lexington city government, I never knew this was how my dad felt. The official called wanting a family member to come and tape a short question-and-answer segment in reference to my father, Leroy Pearson, being honored during Black History Month. Several other local trailblazers are being recognized the same way. A beautiful banner is being flown at City Hall. It depicts the person, giving his or her name and sharing why s/he is considered an important part of the history of Lexington. My dad was the first (and to date) only Black chief of police for the Lexington Police Department (LPD). He was also, along with James Carter, one of the first two Blacks hired as patrol officers in 1956. They began on the same night.

My dad’s rise to chief spans the course of 36 years. By the time he retired in 1996, he had put 40 years into law enforcement. We can make that 42 if I add the years he was a military policeman during the Korean War. When his career started with LPD, I’m sure he didn’t go in with aspirations of being the chief. In 1956, he couldn’t even patrol white neighborhoods or arrest whites. So, of course, leading them on the force was incomprehensible! BUT THINGS CHANGED. And as they evolved, Black people were given more opportunities to advance. Not just within the LPD, or just within Lexington and Davidson County, but our whole country.

As I stated, Black people were starting to be given more opportunities to advance. I say that loosely because a lot of those opportunities were tied to government policies. Because of unfair hiring practices, the government would tie rules/regulations to the hiring of Black people. Incentives were given to companies to hire them. Often, when someone Black was hired at mostly white manned facilities, they would be considered “tokens.” Whether they possessed a PhD or no high school diploma, they would be looked down upon as only getting the job because they were Black. My dad hated that stigma! He wanted to advance on his own merits, be acknowledged for the hard work he put in. He was already within the LPD so why not go for the gusto? The chief’s office could well be in reach. It would take a lot of involvement and going above and beyond the job specifications but it had to be done to be recognized as deserving. He was quoted as saying, “I don’t want to be known as the Black police chief. Just as ‘the’ police chief.” Thankfully, he looked back during his last four years on the force, as chief, to say it was all worth it.

Dad loved his family, from his kids to his grandkids to the great-grands. Most of all, he loved when they stopped by for idle chitchat. Just show up to talk. This was when he could tell stories of being raised by his grandma, having chickens and pigs and getting veggies from the garden. How he sold fatback biscuits at school for breakfast or lunch when his grandma made a batch. Telling how important it was to have principles, to always do your best and to make do with what you have. During the taping of the segment for the city’s website, the question came up as to how Dad felt about being the first Black chief of police. Our family representative shared a conversation she and Dad had about that exact subject. During their discussion he stated, “There’s always going to be a ‘first’ by default. Strive to be the ‘best.’”

Wish I had spent a gazillion more hours with him in idle chitchat!