Today we’d like to introduce you to John H. Bates.
Hi John H., we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. From the start, the road was not easy; I encountered racial prejudice and systemic barriers that too many have faced in our country’s history. Despite it all, I was determined to make a difference – for myself and for my community. I joined law enforcement in Natchez and used the opportunity to challenge discriminatory norms from within the system. All of this was done while I continued to serve with integrity, quietly standing up for justice and equality.
Along the way, I also found the unexpected – I built friendships and powerful alliances with a variety of people – from local community members to political figures, even people in Hollywood and other spheres of influence. Those relationships helped me widen my circle of impact and carry the message of change into places I might never have dreamed of reaching. I consider this a shared journey; my life reflected the broader story of a community and a nation undergoing transformation. That’s what led me to write “Seasons of Change,” my memoir detailing the cyclical nature of growth, the shifting of social norms, and the personal and collective resilience required to get from where we were to where we aspire to be.
As I look back, I realize that what began as an effort to rise above circumstances has become a mission to help others do the same – to show that one person can make a difference and that change, even when quiet or incremental, adds up. My hope is to continue that work. To share my story, mentor, speak, and do my part to empower the next generation.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. My journey has been defined by significant challenges and periods of difficult change.
The single most traumatic struggle was being shot in the line of duty. That incident didn’t just impact me physically; it delivered devastating blows to my dream of remaining in law enforcement. Having to confront the loss of that dream was incredibly painful and forced me to re-evaluate my entire path forward.
Beyond that, my day-to-day work required me to constantly focus on defying the odds in a big city, which is a struggle in itself. Ultimately, my path has been a story of resilience and adaptation—a series of ‘seasons of change’ where I had to keep resetting and pushing forward to build a new life and career. It’s been challenging, but worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am, first and foremost, a family man – a husband for fifty-six wonderful years, a proud girl dad of three, granddad of eight, and great-granddad of three. Within my family, I’m the keeper of our history. I believe deeply in letting them know exactly where they came from so they have a clearer, more defined path of where they are going. This is the root of the strength I share. Outside of my home, I’m known as a man who faced adversity and then used that experience to deliver a message of faith, resilience, and community responsibility to larger audiences.
My greatest source of pride is seeing the success and strength in my children and grandchildren. My daughters have established a business, King’s Circle Homes, that combines the values their mother and I instilled in them with their passion for helping people needing a second start in life. I take immense pride in having been able to instill in them the generational strength that I received from my own father and grandfather. Beyond that, I am proud that I didn’t keep that blueprint of resilience locked away. I am most proud that I chose to share that same fighting spirit and historical context with audiences, turning my personal struggles into a source of public encouragement.
I have a strong belief that history is essential to our future, and I am willing to step up and deliver that message. I have the conviction that we need to get back to some of our traditions that place strong male figures in places that will uplift our families and communities. My life—from the shooting and the loss of my career to writing my memoir—is living proof that the strength we need to push forward is found by looking back, tapping into our heritage, and demanding more of ourselves as men, fathers, and community leaders. That blend of personal pain, historical context, and an unshakeable call to action is what defines my message.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Any success I have is a collective victory rooted in the people who surrounded me. The people who deserve the most credit are absolutely my family. They form the unbreakable foundation of my life. My father and grandfather, along with other strong male figures, gave me my strength. They didn’t just tell me how to be a man; they showed me. They instilled the work ethic, the integrity, and the deep-seated faith that allowed me to stand up after I was shot and continue defying the odds. They taught me that our history is not a weight, but a source of power.
My three daughters, three granddaughters, two great-granddaughters, and my wife—they were, and continue to be, my motivation. Every step I took after that incident, every new career challenge I tackled, was driven by the desire to achieve greater for them. They lit the fire under me. As a nurturer and a caretaker, their well-being and their future have always been the non-negotiable reasons I refused to hold back or settle for anything less than excellence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://somersetseasonsofchange.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somersetseasonsofchange/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Somerset-Seasons-of-Change/61554568283906/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Somerset-Seasons-John-Henry-Bates/dp/B0CTF8QPGF
