Carl Hays was born and grew up in a small rural town in Mendenhall, Mississippi. He received his formal education during the 1960s. Those were some of the most difficult and turbulent years in American history, probably only the second to slavery. It was a difficult time especially if you were a poor African American. It was known as the civil rights era.
In addition to the atrocious economic hardships in Mississippi, African Americans had to also deal with political and social discrimination issues. Blacks had no legal rights or access to adequate medical care. They were denied the most basic human rights afforded to other Americans. This was the America Carl Hays was born in and grew up in and would influence his future destiny.
Carl’s father prayed weekly for his family and prayed that one of his six sons would become an attorney to deal with the unjust legal system. He also prayed that one of his six sons would become a doctor to deal with the insufficient and inadequate medical care for African Americans in Mississippi.
Carl’s father knew the odds at that time of a young African American not having any money, and an inferior, substandard education was very unlikely to be accepted into law school and become an attorney. It was probably ten thousand to one. Carl’s father influenced and prayed that his family would not consider the ten thousand but only consider the one, because he said, “You are the one.” He would often say, “What appears to be impossible for man is never impossible for God.”
Carl Hays did become “the one,” that attorney, and another brother, Gregory, became that doctor. Both have been my father’s answered prayer. They have also been awarded international patents for inventions to make life better for all mankind. Carl has written a number of articles and poems including “Our Story,” “America, America Please Hear My Cry,” “Johnny Took a Walk,” “The Tragedy of Black America,” “Falling from the Mountain Top,” “If It Is Going to Be, It Is Up to Me,” “We Made Plans,” “Looking Out My window,” “To Be a Friend,” “Should African Americans Stand for the National Anthem,” and “When Death Comes Calling.”