I am a proud Thomasville native here in New York City. I give a lot of credit to my education for my current success today. My overall experience in the Thomas County School system was spectacular. It was in high school where I found my love for literature and mass media. I have some special teachers that I can thank for my success in life when it comes to both fields. First and foremost, Mrs. Robin Cartright: my 8th grade English teacher. The famous Randy Young: my high school broadcasting teacher. Next, Mr. Raymond Powell: my 10th Grade English teacher. Finally, is Dr. Erin Rehberg: my freshman English teacher.

My class with her was incredible and it was there where we read famous classics like To Kill a Mockingbird. In the course of the year, I learned to love language arts even more as Mrs. Rehberg taught me so much in her classroom. I would say I give credit to her for watering the seed that Mrs. Cartwright planted in my soul, which was a love for language arts.

It hurt me to learn that Dr. Rehberg was removed from the library board over the sensationalism that is spreading across the country to ban books from children. Not only is this deeply troubling to me to see such an incredible academic mind be banned from serving her community, it is also sad to see this hit my own home town. Books are powerful tools of education, and have been used to educate the masses for centuries. History tells us that during slavery banning slaves from reading was used to keep them from learning about the other freedoms that existed. With this recent act in the Thomasville Library banning books, one could say for the ones of us who read the “good book”: “There is nothing new under the sun.”

This Women’s History Month, I would like to say that I am thankful for the women who have helped raise the strong man that I am today; particularly the Black women in my own family and the multiple other women in my hometown of Thomasville who have touched my life. Dr. Rehberg is no different as someone who touched my life academically, and who I credit for my incredible love for writing to this day. To see her be removed from a position on a thin marginal vote speaks volumes. The Thomasville community has lost a woman who is truly brilliant, and I cannot say how disappointing this is.

I credit my stellar writing and language skills to people in my “Village” like Dr. Rehberg. I’m sure I’m not the only student whose life you have touched over the course of your teaching career, however I will be the first to write and say: Thank You.

-Tevin V. Williams (Thomasville native)