One Fine Day
One fine day I awoke with a vision of equality. The vision came to me as my imagination sought. I worked in the campus bookstore as a cashier. My duties entailed that I improvised good customer service skills. I was a journeyman because I had not known what I wanted to do with my life. My life seemed so incomplete until “opportunity” knocked at my door. The vision came to me with high stature of becoming a dealer. When I heard how much a dealer made in a year at the Bellagio, I acted on impulse to get involved in the Mirage dealing program.
I was a poor black girl from the West side. I was not a popular college student. I had attended Clark County Community College for several years with no real major. I had an Associate of General Studies degree. Convocation was at the Nick Horn Theater. The theater was packed with a room full of beautiful black people. I had no idea at the time what this program meant. All the women were told to leave because the program was for black men only. Sometimes I forget I am black. I was too scared stiff to leave when they decided to include women in their program. It was to make something out of nothing to being accepted. I was beside myself.
Professor Lonnie Wright was the type of teacher and role model that made his students into true achievers. I studied Blackjack under his instruction and I learned a lot in four weeks. The students were there for the same reason - we wanted to be dealers. In fact, there were many Blackjack classes going on at the time. There were over 100 student applicants for the position. The competition made us all better people.
I had undergone the interview process. I was a hard working person who felt she had something to contribute to the dealing program. I knew how to solve problems. I knew how to work with people. I knew of the American dream that one day all people would be created equal. The program entailed the dream to African American dealers in Las Vegas. I wanted to be a part of this dream of “opportunity.”
The day of the audition, I could not express more of the hope that accompanied my vision. I was nervous. My mother told me to read a passage from the Bible from the book of Psalm. When I took my audition I was nervous and yet flawless. Ms. Bingom and I had a conversation about painting. I wanted to work as a dealer to earn money so I could go to college and major in Art at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I had a purpose that supported good reason. I thought I would work a few years as a dealer and later be a curator at the Bellagio museum. The state of mind had been sky blue umbrellas, raincoats and hats danced in my mind not knowing if I would be selected to deal.
At that day, my heart had been clueless. My heart jumped and skipped a few beats winding down the final decision if I had been chosen. I was told by an administrator at the school that I was a leader in the community to finish the program. Upon hearing this I began to make an ambivalent cry. I began to dance with excitement of hearing the news that I made history. I had too a dream of gratitude.
I now work in the gaming lab at the College of Southern Nevada in honor of the dealing program creating opportunity for other students who share the same dream.
