Back home in Panama with beautiful beaches, a precious locale.
A melting pot, warm people, proud of their ocean canal.
Mother had asthma, at times struggled to breathe.
Father was a smoker, worked hard to meet the family needs.
Back in those days, cigarette smoking was in vogue.
Even doctors on TV gave tobacco hope.

Little Rollie started smoking before he was a teen.
At the time, he did not know that cigarettes were so mean.
He said, My father smoked Winstons and so do I.
Thinking he was cool, hip, so fly.

Then Rollie came to America in 1968.
A tumultuous time in the South, filled with clashes and hate.
He experienced culture shock, learning that equality was not for all.
Feeling pressured, changing cigarettes to menthol, the Winstons had to fall.

Moving to New York, Rollie struggled establishing his presence.
Yearning for inclusion, seeking the virtues of life essence.
As his teen years ended, Rollie wisely quit smoking,
Leaving behind the pretenses, in his soul erupting.

Rollie quit smoking, and so did his father.
Quitting was a wonderful thing, especially for his mother.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle, Rollie learned not to follow unhealthy trends.
His passion grew stronger, warning others about the perils of tobacco dead ends.

Commentary:

Although Rollie never enjoyed smoking, he succumbed to parental influence and peer pressure. Once he quit smoking, he became a staunch supporter of anti smoking issues.

Breathe DC staff are sharing their firsthand tobacco experience, past and present, to help shine a light on the ways that tobacco has affected their lives. We publish their testimonies and hope that our collective voices of experience overcoming tobacco will inspire and empower others to take a stand. United against tobacco, we can all make every breath count.

Here comes the express bus, right on time.
Always reliable, a roadmaster in its prime.

Good morning dapper young man, the friendly bus driver greeted.
Let me know where you are headed before you are seated.
Rollie answered, To a school in Riverdale, the land of plenty.
Well, relax young man, the ride is lengthy.

As the bus traveled through Manhattan and the Bronx, towards its destination,
Rollie was immersed in reviewing his presentation.
Suddenly, Rollie rang the bell as he approached his stop,
Quickly snatched his shoulder bag which laid on top.
As soon as Rollie stepped off the bus he realizes
That left behind was the bag with the school prizes.

He yelled out, Driver please stop! to no avail.
The bus took off leaving him in its trail.
Rollie ran behind the bus with his shoulder bag in his hand.
Screaming at the top of his lungs, Stop, stop that man!

As he ran, gaining ground up a hill,
Rollie was relentless, such a strong will.
Then the bus moved cautiously, entering the highway.
Although Rollie was in dismay, he stood hoping to find another way.

The running was over, and the bus was gone.
No worries, the chase was still on.
Rollie instinctively raised his long arm and hailed a car.
Sir, please help me catch that bus before it gets too far.

Get in young man, I will get you there.
What a relief, he was no longer in despair.
The gentleman rapidly caught up and halted the bus.
Rollie retrieved the prize bag without a fuss.

Then the gentleman drove Rollie to the elementary school.
Where children attended and gained basic educational tools.
Thank you sir, for your wonderful kindness.
You are welcome, keep flaming the brightness.

Commentary:

The experience of Rollie retold here was, and is still, remarkable for the kindness and humanity it embodied. The story is filled with good people and good results. The man, who happened to be white, without hesitation offered to help Rollie, a young black man. The bus driver, without hesitation pulled over on the highway so Rollie could retrieve the prizes. The kindness in action that day still resonates with Rollie to this day.

In the 1980s, Rollie managed the Lungs At Work Fun Run, an educational, physical fitness, and fundraising program. The initiative included, a slide presentation on the effects of smoking on health, a fun run pledge event, and an awards presentation with medals, ribbons, certificates, and prizes for the student participants. Over the years, thousand of elementary school students received valuable lessons on the importance of healthy living, and contributing to the greater good.

Breathe DC staff are sharing their firsthand tobacco experience, past and present, to help shine a light on the ways that tobacco has affected their lives. We publish their testimonies and hope that our collective voices of experience overcoming tobacco will inspire and empower others to take a stand. United against tobacco, we can all make every breath count.

Four decades ago in New York City,
A place with sky rises, and hip folk, oh so pretty.

Rollie walked in the restaurant, standing tall,
Calmly walked to his favorite table by the window,
his back seated against the wall.
“Let me get a turkey and cheese hero,” he said to the waiter.
“Sure thing,” said the waiter. “I’ll be back later.”

She walked past Rollie and sat at the next table
Took out a cigarette, lit it and took a drag, as if she was able.
Back in the day, smoking in public places was legal.
But to Rollie, all smoking was evil.

He began gasping for air as he could barely breathe,
“Ma’am, please put out the cigarette,” he uttered his plea.
“I have a right to smoke,” she bluntly said,
“Don’t you dare bother me,” quickly turning her head.

“Waiter, waiter! Get the manager,” she called out,
“Yes ma’am, I am the manager, what is this about?”
“That man is bothering me, asking me to put out my smoke.”
“Sir you have to leave right now,” oh, what a stroke.

As Rollie walked out of the restaurant feeling ridiculed and shamed,
He was consumed with anger, mistrust and pain.
Later that day as ease came to his burn,
He vowed to that restaurant never return.

Commentary:

At the time of this event, Rollie was a young, very tall black man. The lady smoker was a white, middle-aged woman, and the manager was a white man. Although Rollie viewed this event as a smoker versus nonsmoker, one wonders if racism had any role in the outcome.

New York City passed the Smoke Free Air Act in 2002 to protect the health of New York City workers against the harmful effects of secondhand smoke by making virtually all workplaces smoke-free, including bars and restaurants.

Washington DC became smoke-free on April 4, 2006 and imposed measures as those in New York City.

Breathe DC staff are sharing their firsthand tobacco experience, past and present, to help shine a light on the ways that tobacco has affected their lives. We publish their testimonies and hope that our collective voices of experience overcoming tobacco will inspire and empower others to take a stand. United against tobacco, we can all make every breath count.