I have generous office hours for students, but not every hour in my office is open to students. Quite often during non-office hours, a student or colleague will knock on my door. When I open it, they'll often ask, "May I disturb you?" That's an incredible question to which I frequently reply, mostly in a civil fashion, "You've already disturbed me; now what do you want?"

Dr. Martin Rosenberg, my high school English teacher, having had it with my classroom antics whilst he drilled us in English grammar, told me, "Williams, teaching you this material is like casting pearls before the swine." That was in 1952 before everyone became concerned about self-esteem, but it was precisely the kind of dressing down that I needed to challenge me and turn my high school academic performance around. Two years later, it was Dr. Rosenberg who proudly coached me with my salutatorian address for our graduation ceremony. I thank God that I received my education before educators and psycho-babblers became concerned about self-esteem; I'm also thankful for having received it before it became fashionable for white people to like black people. It meant my grades were honest.