“Life Is So Good,” by George Dawson
Banned Book of the Month
George Dawson was born in Marshall, Texas, in the northeast corner of the state near the Arkansas and Louisiana borders. His grandfather had been enslaved, as was his great-grandfather. Dawson left Marshall at age twenty-one and traveled extensively on the railroads throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Nine years later, he returned to find his family members gone with no record of where to find them. Had there been a record, it would have meant nothing to George, who couldn’t read.
George met a literate woman, Elzenia Arnold; they married and moved to Dallas, where they had seven children. George helped them all with their homework though still unable to read. George began employment in Dallas, working for the city doing road repair. He later worked for a local dairy, where he worked for twenty-seven years before retiring in 1965.
At the age of ninety-eight, he was working door-to-door for an adult learning center when he acknowledged to an instructor that he didn’t know how to read and would like to.
“All your life, you’ve wanted to read. Maybe this is why you’re still around.” -George Dawson.
George learned to read; he even wrote a book about his experiences over his lifetime at the age of 102, “Life Is So Good,” published in 2000. Written with a co-author, it detailed experiences, good and bad. One of those was witnessing a lynching in Marshall when he was ten years old.
Most people saw the book as inspirational. George Dawson became the poster adult for adult literacy. He appeared on the Oprah Show and was highlighted in People Magazine and the Christian inspirational magazine, Guideposts. After his death, he was honored by the Southlake School District in Texas, about twenty-five miles southeast of Dallas, by naming a school after him.
What Southlake giveth it taketh away. Life Is So Good has been taken off the shelves in the school named after its author. The school board is reviewing whether Dawson’s book is fit to be read by the students. Its references to segregation and slavery might violate the state law against teaching “critical race theory.”
Here are a few reviews of the book; most people found it inspirational:
“Life Is So Good is a book that everyone deserves to read. It is a feel good journey through the life of George Dawson, an amazing man who learned to read at the age of 98. While most feel good novels give me a sick feeling in my stomach, this one is free of the saccharine.
The book gives us an honest look at what happened to George Dawson through a century of life, and not all of it was good. What makes this book different from others is that it doesn’t focus on the good parts. We get an honest telling of Dawson’s life, both good and bad, and that really makes a difference.
If this life belonged to another man, this would be a tale of hardship, but we are blessed to see life through the eyes of George Dawson, who takes things as they come and is always thankful for what he has. Instead of becoming an unhappy, downtrodden, bitter old man, we read about the life of a man who can accept what life throws at him and always looks at the bright side.
This book shows us that that perhaps Abraham Lincoln was right, and “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” And I believe that is a lesson that all of us could benefit from.” -Andrew
What a life story. Years 1898- 2001 through the eyes of a colored man who lived through it all and came out being thankful instead of resentful. Very inspirational… this should be a required read for every high school student.-Lori
“A short read, and thoroughly uplifting. I loved hearing George Dawson’s experiences over the century of his life, and his gratitude-infused perspective. A worthwhile memoir.” -Jocelyn
After much criticism, the Southlake School District says the book hasn’t been banned but is under “administrative review.” The district isn’t new to controversy, having come under fire previously for banning books. Their response then was:
“The guidelines are based in part on a new Texas law that prohibits schools from teaching lessons that might make students feel “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress” because of their race.”
Southlake, Texas, schools restrict classroom libraries after backlash over anti-racist book
An English teacher at a Carroll campus wrapped their classroom library with yellow caution tape, according to a photo…
It’s probably good George Dawson didn’t live long enough to see the friction caused by his book. He was just trying to make folks feel good.If they remove the book, don’t they have to change the school's name too?
Update: After negative publicity, the Southlake superintendent stated that Life Is So Good had not been banned but was merely tabled for review after a teacher asked if it could be mandatory reading in a 7th-grade class. After review, undisclosed portions of the book were found unacceptable and required teacher-led instruction for those chapters.
Thank you, Professor Spivey for sharing this story with such power. I confess that in all my years, I was unaware of Richard Dawson‘s story. And so I did burst out sobbing, in tears upon reading your entry, “At age 98,… he acknowledged to an instructor that he didn’t know how to read and would like to.”
I can’t wait to read Richard Dawson’s book, in part because I share with him the foundational outlook that every day is a good day.
Yellow caution tape surrounding libraries! These un-American book bans must end. Dear Kamala gives hope.🙏🌊
Looking back at the years of my public education I now recognize so much was lying to cover up the shame of genocide, greed, and inhumane white entitlement masquerading as "Manifest Destiny." These forms of social conditioning harm all people. All are victimized by the cover up. James Baldwin said that Black people could be free if white people could free ourselves from all the lies that keep us in line. Dr. King said none are free until all are free. Are we listening?