One night, at 11:30 pm, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway, trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her – generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away.
Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant combination console colour TV and stereo record player was delivered to his home.
A special note was attached. The note read:
Dear Mr. James: Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. – Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole
Alabama is a southeastern US State that is home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement.
Nathaniel Adams Coles (1919-1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Widely admired for his soft baritone voice, he was a major force in popular music for three decades and had his own show on TV. His recordings remained popular worldwide much after his death from lung cancer.
Read the story “Sitting on your talent” in this website for another interesting anecdote about Nat King Cole himself.
Pic courtesy: National Postal Museum, USA