By Von C. Howard
Growing up in Northwest Fort Lauderdale, I didn’t always realize just how much was being poured into me. But as I reflect now in my role as a husband, father, community servant, and fraternity brother, I can clearly see the countless ways that prayer, perseverance, and patience shaped my path.
I stand today because of the prayers of my grandmothers, my godmother, and my aunts, who lifted me up even when I didn’t know I needed covering. I stand because of my uncles and my father, who gave me guidance even when my own decisions didn’t always line up with the wisdom they tried to share. I still hear their voices reminding me to always reach for the highest prize.
I stand because of my mother, who pressed on when life felt heavy. I watched her pray when she thought she was alone, and I saw firsthand what those prayers could do, not just for her, but for her children who were watching. And I stand because of my extended church family and community elders, those neighbors and mentors who watched over me, corrected me, and safeguarded me even when I had no clue what they were doing at the time.
This is why Galatians 6:9 rings so deeply within me: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.”
“Due Season” Reflections
Recently, on my fraternity’s weekly prayer call, the theme was “Due Season.” As I listened, I thought about all the seeds that had been planted in me over the years, the prayers, the lessons, the sacrifices, the guidance. Those seeds were not wasted. They were simply waiting on God’s timing. And the same is true for all of us: if we keep sowing, keep working, and keep trusting, our harvest will come.
From Dirt Roads to Legacy Businesses
The truth is, this message isn’t just about me; it’s about Fort Lauderdale itself. I think back to the dirt roads along the Sistrunk Corridor that grew into hubs of Black business and pride. Places like the Victory Theatre, Melody Bar, Cone’s Hat Shop, Zeno’s Furniture Store, Leonard’s Clothing Store, Bass Brothers, Willie Walker’s Grocery Store, Hankerson’s Service Station, Monroe’s Cleaners, the 6th Street Pharmacy, and Burrows Electric Company.
These were more than businesses, they were anchors of our community, places where people gathered, worked, and dreamed. They were testaments to resilience and vision in a time when opportunities for Black families were limited.
Fast forward to today, and while much has changed, the spirit of empowerment remains alive. Sistrunk still tells a story of perseverance through businesses like Smitty’s Wings, The Salad Boss, Ivory’s Take-Out, Sunday’s Eatery, Neighborhood and Checkmate Barbershops, and of course, The Westside Gazette itself. Each one represents more than commerce. They are continuations of a legacy, proof that seeds planted long ago are still bearing fruit.
Patience, Prayer, and Perseverance
For the Black community, empowerment has always been tied to the power of prayer, the endurance of patience, and the fire of perseverance. From slavery to civil rights, from segregation to systemic injustice, we’ve endured. And through it all, we’ve built institutions, nurtured families, and lifted communities.
But even now, in 2025, there are moments when weariness creeps in. Times when doing the right thing feels heavy, when community work feels overlooked, or when personal struggles make quitting seem easier. I’ve been there myself. But then I remember those three powerful words from the 90s: “Too legit to quit.”
MC Hammer may have given us an anthem, but the message is timeless: we are too authentic, too rooted in purpose, and too connected to the legacy of those who came before us to give up now.
Building for Tomorrow
Empowerment shows up in everyday actions—raising children with integrity, mentoring our young men and women, supporting Black-owned businesses, protecting our mental and spiritual health, and simply showing up for one another. These may seem like small things, but they are seeds. And seeds take time to grow.
That’s why the Sistrunk story matters. It reminds us that what starts as a dirt road can grow into a corridor of culture, commerce, and community. Progress is possible—but only when we commit to being faithful stewards of what was passed down to us.
Being the Safeguards
If there is one thing my life has taught me, it is this: none of us makes it alone. I am who I am because of the prayers, guidance, and protection of others. Now it is our turn to be that covering for someone else.
I encourage each of us to become the safeguards our children and communities need. Be the elder who corrects with love. Be the neighbor who looks out for the kids on the block. Be the mentor who pours into the next generation. Be the one who prays for someone else when they don’t have the strength to pray for themselves.
This is the power of empowerment. This is how we make sure that when the next generation reaps their due season, they will know it wasn’t by accident. It was because we stood in the gap for them, just as others once did for us.
So, I leave you with this: stay faithful, stay focused, keep building, keep praying. And above all, remember, we are too legit to quit.
