MY JOURNEY

Growing up & educated in Terre Haute, IN public schools, college in Terre Haute, In and Indianapolis, IN. I’ve always had a passion for learning and teaching through reading. While I struggled in selecting a major between Accounting and Education, I’m proud to say I’m doing both. I’m an Accountant of 34 years and Sub-Teacher of 14 years. My inquisitiveness continues to embrace the boldness of words. Capturing and embracing the memories at home and beyond, my siblings and I regularly attended the original Charles T. Hyte Community Center where we engaged in various educational & recreational activities, exposure and learning of our African American/Black Cultural History. As an avid reader, founder & owner of Tutor I.M.P.A.C.T., LLC serving inner city 2nd and 3rd graders and an Americorp’s Alumni Educational Tutor, I’m ecstatic in extending my passion to others sharing an escape of one’s busy life into “Readers Paradise”.

HOMAGE

A Special Special Thank You to my parents Mr. Henry L. & Mrs. Mary E. Taylor for their unwavering love, compassion and wisdom, direction, values, protection, discipline and their guidance. May you both RIP!

Mr. Charles T. Hyte was an avid Educator in the Vigo County School District and later named principal of the Booker T. Washington School. Mr. Hyte served in other capacities locally as well. During my childhood under the center’s directorship of Mrs. Hoke, and assistants, Mrs. Florence Cooper, Mrs. Sophia Tompkins, Mrs. Rose Acuff (my neighbor) and countless others, I as so many others in our community were blessed to have encountered such an early socially black historical experience, fulfilling what our parents had encompassed themselves.

MISSION

Essence Book Gallery’s vision was founded through God’s vision, with a desire through reading, teaching, educating, enlightening & informing our black community and beyond, who yearns to learn by receiving and applying the knowledge it all offers to ones own journey. In doing so, it is my hope that these cultural and historical reading experiences may be enriched through self-preservation, that will continue to influence each ones journey.

At E.B.G. my goal is to focus on each customers African American/Black History and Cultural reading experiences, yearning to learn of our ancestors/trailblazers worldwide journey to current status, who’ve paved the way through their successes captured from their adversities, struggles, oppression, death, systemic racism, etc. Each readers experience will be influenced by Black Authors & Poets, Farmers, Inventors, Athletes, Civil Rights Activists - Trailblazers, Icons, Educators, Doctors, Nurses, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, Veterans, Politicians, Artists, Journalists & Historians, etc.

THANK YOU!!!

A special Thank You to my daughter Mi-Mi grandson De’reon, and granddaughter D’laia, for their love and support, their sacrifices, suggestions, and other contributions.

And a special Thank You to Ms. Deidra Wiley and the Vigo County Public Library for their historical information.