Mr. T: Stands for "Teacher"

Mr. T in 1970  (Public Domain)

Although Mr. T was literally a teacher in the Chicago school system during the 1970s, he has consistently been a “Teacher” of life’s greatest lessons for most of his life.

Mr. T’s own education in the ways of this world began quite early.  Growing up in an inner-city housing project meant that he “regularly witnessed murder, rape, and other crimes…”

When Mr. T later served as a bodyguard, his “commandments” began developing.  For example, Mr. T insisted that clients “not lie to him.”  He also required clients to “shop around before coming to him.”

Musically, Mr. T's philosophy translates into such works as “Mr. T’s Commandments,” a 1984 album which “instructed children to stay in school and to stay away from drugs.”

He also released a “motivational video” that same year titled “Be Somebody…or Be Somebody’s Fool!”  This video includes Mr. T’s rap lessons on believing in God, respecting parents, dealing with peer

pressure, and controlling anger.

As a born-again Christian observing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. T was moved to give up most of his trademark gold jewelry.  He explained:  I felt it would be insensitive and disrespectful to the

people who lost everything, so I stopped wearing my gold. 

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._T

Copyright September 4, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved