Analysis of I Came As a Shadow by John Thompson Essay Sample

An Autobiography "I Came as a Shadow" by John Thompson and co-author Jesse Washington, brings to life John’s loving family background and societal hardships he faced as he faced throughout his life, including as both an educator and coach. It started with him living with his parents in Washington D.C in the “projects” as both his loving parents did not have the means to provide a “better” lifestyle in comparison to those of his white classmates. He faced numerous lifelong racial and intellectual discrimination during a time of racial segregation across America. Even though he faced harsh racism and social inequalities, he loved to play basketball and over time the idea of being an educator on and off the court would be an ultimate aspiration. This aspiration and disciplined upbringing came from two people John Thompson talked about who held high influence in his life: his mothers and father, Anna Alexander Thompson, and John Robert Thompson Senior. 

For John Thompson, his mother was the one person in his corner that pushed him to be the person he became, a teacher and coach. She earned a degree from Miner Teachers college in Washington but faced hardships finding a job in Washington DC with her profession. John states she did work as they called, “day’s work…cleaning house for white people” (8). While she worked hard, she instilled in him that “he should not let anybody define him as something he was not” (1). His father encouraged him in several aspects as well, as he himself did not attend school, and was unable to read and write. A key phrase his father taught him was “son, study the white man” (3) understanding that this would aid him as an educator and coach in the latter part of his life. At a time where African American children were extremely inundated in racial and social inequalities across the entire spectrum of life, John’s parents never made him believe he was lesser than others or “whites” but that he was unique and valued. This showed that John Thompson had a strong family background that supported and encouraged him to stand for what he believed. 

In 5th grade, his nun told his mother that he must leave the school because he can’t read. The teacher assumed he was “retarted”. Then his mother enrolled him in public school where his life was changed forever by his teacher Jametta Wallace Jackson. As Coach Thomson said, “I would not be where I am today if not for Sametta Wallace Jackson” (20). She told him that “you are not stupid. You just can’t read.” (21). Coach Thomson was convinced himself that he was unable to read. Of course, his teacher Wallace knows that he has the potential to do it if he gets help or the proper support. The re-enforcement of his teacher, Sametta Wallace, and his family support, made Coach Thomson the best coach that led him to use basketball as an instrument for teaching on and off the court.

As Coach Thompson had a great instructor, Ms. Wallace, and a disheartened nun after he left the Catholic school, he quickly improved his skills. He entered his undergraduate studies with an individual by the name of Dr, Anita Hughes in Federal City College where he learned how to write a lesson plan and supervise children in a classroom. He said, “Dr. Hughes taught him how to relate to students in a way that would affect their lives outside school”. He talks about how Dr. Hughes was demanding and challenging which ultimately sparked his full potential. The one thing he will never forget from her speech was “a black person in America, it’s not enough to have a plan A and plan B. Black folks need to have a plan C” (77). Dr. Hughes taught him how to deal with young people. “I always plan to be a teacher, not a basketball coach. I used basketball as an instrument to teaching” (1). Coach Tomson talked about how he used basketball as an instrument of teaching. For one of his players, Patrick Ewing wrote “Coach Thompson changed my life, not through basketball but his teaching on education and manhood. He also changed our country, and the way America sees itself. He was a great coach”. 

In my view, I admire Coach Thompson's strategies of teaching, mentoring, and taking care of his family. Coach Thompson unlike his classmates did not experience a softer life but faced a lot of challenges that formed the building blocks of a great educator. Since the Nuns told his mother that he was retarded, Coach Thompson understood at an early age that education is an important key to success in life. By looking at his parents, his father was not able to read because didn’t go to school causing his children to read for him. His mother graduated from teaching school, but due to social inequalities worked for white people because of the color of her skin, black. From all his experiences, he knew that only playing basketball would not take them anywhere without education. As he stated that “if you want to be a slave, I refuse to be a master” (226). If they want to play basketball, they must be good in their education too. Also, I liked the way he teamed with his player/teacher Mary Fenlon, who supervised his players academically. In various ways, I have similarities with Coach Thompson in the aspect of raising my children on the importance of education in addition to other activities. As he was used basketballs as instruments of education, I’m using chores as an instrument of education. For example, if they want to buy a computer or video games, they must have a good grade in school to demonstrate that to receive anything that they want in life, work is required. It instills the values of hard work, education as a pillar of success, and rewards that come with strong effort. In my understanding, I knew that without education there is nowhere to succeed physically, mentally, and financially, because of that I joined the University of the District of Columbia to reach my full potential.