[Ladybug09]

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-60208


Note: for some reason video not showing here. Check the link.



The oldest man in America is Black






He is my grandfather George Rene Francis known to us as "Papa" he is 112 years old born and raised in New Orleans LA. I remember him telling me about growing up in his time, he never complained about the conditions he grew up in even though they were very poor. He never talked about race much other than what history has taught. We grew up knowing were black in America but we never focused on it. He of all people could tell you about the racist south everyday but his focus was to help us become achievers and to let nothing hold you back from achieving. My grandfather told me to not allow color to be an issue but to overcome by gaining knowledge. He was not an educated man scholastically but for me he was the best teacher I ever had. He taught me to be colorblind. He taught me to be independent self-sufficient, he taught me a little about fixing cars, cutting hair, small construction type work, and taking care of my yard. Because I grew up without a father in the home, my grandfather taught me skills to help me, help my mother around the house. He also took me crawfish fishing, taught me how to prepare, and cook food. Being black in America is knowing you are black from within not from the outside. I am an American just like anyone else born here with the same advantages and disadvantages living while black, but if a black man can be 112 years old and become the oldest man in America with all the mess he's been through. If Millions of others who have survived and succeeded here in this country while being black, I guarantee you the color of their skin wasn't the reason maybe it was something greater within. Why are we so caught up in the color of our skin anyway? Don't let old America hold your future, being black in America again is another label, don't let what you look like decide who you are inside. Besides, recognize what Blacks and other non-Whites have gone through and embracing it through the hope of change, without the rebellion. Let put an end to the division, put an end to the labels, my Papa taught me rise above it al. Don't hold yourself back, stop complaining, move on. America is your country stand tall and do something good with your opportunity.

[Roo]

Ladybug, can you find a news link on this man? The story on him is more of a blog entry/comment on that site. If you can find another link, PM me and I'll reopen this. Thanks.

[Roo]

Found one from 2007.

Sacramento man, 110, lived through 19 presidents, seven U.S. wars

Monday, June 4, 2007
(06-04) 12:23 PDT SACRAMENTO, (AP) --

George Rene Francis has lived through 19 presidents and seven American wars. He rode in the back of the bus before the civil rights movement, and chauffeured a white doctor around New Orleans in a Studebaker and a Cadillac.

He's seen America move from Jim Crow to Barack Obama.

Francis just turned 110, celebrating his status as one of America's oldest men with 300 of his closest relatives Sunday. They include four children, 18 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

Though he moved to Sacramento in 1949, Francis' roots are still in New Orleans. Mardi Gras beads covered the tables for Francis' birthday celebration, while a trio played "When The Saints Go Marching In."
He remembers Louis Armstrong playing trumpet on his front porch in New Orleans' Seventh Ward, and when Booker T. Washington told his third-grade class to treat everyone with respect.

Francis, who is black, credits "Mother Nature" for genes that helped him beat the odds: the average life expectancy of black men today is 68.3 years, compared with 74.7 for white men. When Francis was a toddler in 1900, the average black man lived 32.5 years, compared to 46.6 years for white males.

"If you look at his eating history, he's lived a long time for all the wrong reasons," said his son, Tony Francis. "He drank tons of milk, ate tons of eggs, lard on bread and pork-salt sandwiches."
Francis did give up cigars — at the age of 75.
___
Information from: The Sacramento Bee,
www.sacbee.com
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...n122149D40.DTL

[Ladybug09]

Good, cause that was the only link I saw. I'm looking at the news online at work, and we are blocked for some links...even on CNN. I hate freakin filters...

Pork salt sandwiches.....

[Jahpson]

wonder whats his secret

[Liberté]

Opening this thread I thought I should write a reply concerning the IMO inappropriate headline (not directly, however, could you ever imagine a headline saying "The oldest person in america is white"?? Not that it would be any better.)

However, I must say this is very interesting. To read. Shows that genes can take you a long way. The oldest lady to ever lived did smoke and drink untill her dying day if my memory serves me right. =) It must be amazing to live that long and to experience that much!

[caxe]

Originally Posted by Jahpson

wonder whats his secret

My grandmother, whom I love dearly, AND her twin sister just celebrated 92 birthdays. Once, I asked her how they got to be so long-lived. I asked them what could I do. She said, "Just take it one day at a time."

Living to be a ripe old age is pretty much a crapshoot. There's so much that can take you out at any age...it's a wonder that there's ANYONE who is 112!

[Ladybug09]

I don't see anything wrong with the title, and for heavens sake it was also on CNN. Geeez!

And the importance of the title went along with the story and blog about his heritage, getting too that age despite the avg life expectancy of BLACK men in America.

And yes, we all would love for there to be a 'color blind' world, but that will not always be the case.

[~Fabulousity~]

Wow that's awesome! My husbands grandma died back in 04 she was 94 or 96...

[Roo]

Originally Posted by caxe

My grandmother, whom I love dearly, AND her twin sister just celebrated 92 birthdays. Once, I asked her how they got to be so long-lived. I asked them what could I do. She said, "Just take it one day at a time."

Living to be a ripe old age is pretty much a crapshoot. There's so much that can take you out at any age...it's a wonder that there's ANYONE who is 112!

What a great story caxe!

[candace117]

Thank you for posting this!!!!

[SJ of AZ]

Mr. Francis sounds like a very wise, interesting man. All those who know and love him are lucky to have the privilege. I feel inspired when I read about people like him. Bless him!

[HauteMama]

When the man himself says, "Let put an end to the division, put an end to the labels, my Papa taught me rise above it all" I do find the thread title ironic.

[ShimmaPuff]

The headline is from a blog entry written by Mr Francis' grandchild.

All props and wishes for many more birthdays to Mr.Francis. Wouldn't it be fun to just sit and listen to him!

[BagAngel]

Wow! & he used dairy, lard on bread OMG! loads of eggs, salted pork & smoked cigars until 75, amazing! Are we being fooled by all this healthy eating?