Bipeds of Brookland: Cheryl Alston

Bipeds of Brookland: Cheryl Alston

Cheryl Alston met Pope Francis last year. She used the Latin she learned at St. Anthony’s, saying “dominus vobiscum” (the Lord be with you). He replied “Et cum spiritu tuo.”

She began school in 1954.  “I was the first black child to go to St. Anthony’s.  I started 1^st grade and graduated from 12^th grade.”  She had perfect attendance over those 12 years. “I had an opportunity to get a good education and that carried over into adult life.”

Cheryl worked for Safeway for 28 years. “I used to love thunderstorms because it would knock the power out and the store manager would have everybody get in my line and I would take the groceries and add them up without the register.” She went to DC Teachers’ College at night while working and later taught junior high math for six years, “working nights at Safeway and teaching during the day.”  After she retired she drove a Metro bus for almost 10 years.

“I’ve written one book, starting another one, poetry and prose.  It’s called Learning Me.”

She shared a poem she wrote when she was 11.

Lost

Excuse me can you find the little girl I Ieft behind.

She looks an awful like lot you but she looks sunny and you look blue

She’s bright and happy and full of glee, a joy for everyone to see

smiling happy and full of trust, without your chains locked tight with rust

She’s smart and curious and wonders why But little birdies and airplanes can fly

she loves to laugh and loves to play and every day she stops to pray

excuse me tell me why do you cry because that little girl was I

Bipeds of Brookland: A weekly series introducing the people who make Brookland their home, one step at a time. Interview and photo by Tom Sabella.