Jimmy Carter & Risky Acts of Decency

Jimmy Carter died.  You most likely heard.  Here’s a story about Jimmy Carter that I wager you haven’t heard.

The story comes to me second hand, embedded in a conversation with a Navy veteran.  The story had informed appreciated mentoring of him by a superior officer.

A black junior officer ate alone in a white Navy mess hall.  Day after day.  Except for one junior white officer who purposely and regularly sat with him, defying the surrounding social pressure … simply to provide company.

That junior officer was Jimmy Carter.

The African American friend, client and colleague who told me this story embedded it in conversation about mentoring generally and a white officer particularly, an officer who provided valued, sustained mentoring to him.  When asked why he was providing such ongoing support, the officer responded that he wished that he had done more to support that isolated black junior officer.  The officer regretted his inaction.  He had vowed to try to make up for what he had not done.  He had vowed to be more like Jimmy Carter.

Small acts of leadership and decency.  Unknown consequences. Paying forward.

Happy New Year.