Pearl Fryer

WRT 101 Summer 2010

Dr. Susan San Jule

June 7, 2010

How One Seed Makes a Difference

An unknown and unlikely man, with fervor and fortitude, was able to rise to prominence as a worldwide celebrated topiary artist. Inspiring stories like this one are not heard often, but when they are we should listen closely and treasure them. From the documentary A Man Named Pearl which was produced/directed by Scott Galloway and Brent Pierson in 2006, I was able to hear the story of a magnificent man who I learned a lot from and can personally relate to. A Man Named Pearl is an ingenious and captivating film with an optimistic message how one man, Pearl, could to teach us how we should respect ourselves as well as one another. Although this film carries many messages, the most important message one can obtain from listening to this story is that with perseverance anything can be achieved, as Fryar did. Many don’t know about Pearl Fryar which is a shame because he is an astonishing man with an amazing story. He came from an African American sharecropping family that was from the rural south. From a very young age, Pearl Fryar worked with his dad at the sharecropping farm. He grew up in a place where racism was still strong which affected his education as well as opportunities he could’ve had. Due to racism, Fryar had no other choice but to help out his father and forget about a real education. The truth is that the best education someone could get he got it from his father. His father couldn’t give him much, but he did leave him with his wisdom and strong work ethic. This helped Fryar accomplish many amazing things. To begin with, he was the first African American male to win the Yard of the Month Award in Bishopville, a small town in South Carolina. This was just the beginning of many awards and recognitions he got from his topiary garden he built from the grown up. It wasn’t easy, but Pearl...