IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME SHIRLEY HARRIS-SLAUGHTER TODAY ON MY BLOG ON HER BLOG TOUR

OVER TO YOU, SHIRLEY!

Welcome! DAY 2 OF MY 3-DAY BLOG TOUR.

Thank you Nonnie Jules for your wonderful Act of Kindness. And thank you to my host for having me on your blog.

Here is a piece from the story of what goes on behind the scenes of a major newspaper.

NEWSPAPER CHRONICLES

Excerpt:

In those days, the government had employment agencies that helped you find jobs. So I headed straight for the Michigan Employment Security Exchange (MESE) in my hometown. I had a plan and that is where I went to find a job to support myself and a very young son. I met up with a young man and we struck up a conversation.

I said, “What are you here for?” He said, “To find work, what else?” We laughed and introduced ourselves. It broke the awkwardness of the moment.

“My name is Robert, and yours?”

“I’m Leslie Allen!”

“Hi Leslie. How about this, if you are interested in finding real work, I’ll take you over to Turner and Turner Personnel. They can help you find what you are qualified for.”

He appeared to be nice enough so I accepted his invitation. I do not recommend anyone trying this today. It’s too dangerous.

I was immediately taken to a room where I filled out an application. Then a nice lady gave me a written exam and a typing test on the spot.

I couldn’t believe I typed 60 WPM. That was the highest score I had ever achieved in my life. Those practice sessions with an old beat up typewriter paid off. And I got a high score on the written exam. Because I tested so high, the agency handed me three very promising employment leads.

“This is my lucky day! There is a God and he loves me!”

We’re talking about two auto industries’ leads, and a newspaper industry – all fantastic, highly sought-after careers. People fought to get employment in those industries. The pay was excellent, benefits were good and job security guaranteed. I was just trying to get into Ford Motor Co. My father worked there until his retirement. This is Motown! And most of my friends’ parents were employed at Ford’s, Chrysler, or General Motors and/or their subsidiaries. We lived and breathed cars, and we read the newspapers.

What were the chances of meeting someone who took enough of an interest to drive me to a personnel agency; pass the written exam; then go out and get hired? It doesn’t happen that way. The chances are slim to none.

I never saw that guy again.

Maybe it wasn’t a chance meeting. Maybe it was karma. Maybe he was a headhunter looking for the right candidate. Whatever it was, nothing happens by chance. Everything happens in its place. You have to be a firm believer in that ideology to understand what just transpired.

After a second interview, the Detroit Free Press hired me and bought out my contract.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

A little more about me:

I am a Michigan native. I was baptized into the Catholic faith with my family as a child. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Cleary University in Howell, Michigan in 1992.  I am married to Langston and we reside in Oak Park, MI.

My college thesis entitled: “The Implementation of the Most Comprehensive Approach to Restoring the Michigan Central Depot” was about saving a dilapidated historic train station in downtown Detroit.  I resurrected the Friends of the Michigan Central Depot, and brought attention to this neglected piece of history.

My love of history has propelled me to write about my experience growing up in the catholic community, and correcting its omission from the pages of history.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS & BOOK TITLES:

Email: sharrislaughter@gmail.com

Website: http://rememberourladyofvictory.com/

Blog:  https://shirleyslaughter.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharrislaughter

Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sharrislaughter/

OLV Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-of-Victory-796220353772511/

Amazon Book Links:  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00EXRCH20

MY BOOK TITLES:

Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African-American Catholic Community

Crazy! Hot! And Living On The Edge!!

Newspaper Chronicles (Kindle Edition)

A Citizen’s Group In Action – Saving a Train Station

Lastly, Shirley is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, JOIN US! We’d love to have you!