Annie Russell: Attayah Milton’s dad, Yusuf Ali, made his living as a salesman. He sold everything from office furniture to ceiling tiles.

No matter where his job took the family Yusuf was known as the cool dad, mentoring kids and adults along the way.

Yusuf came to StoryCorps with Attayah to share a few life lessons and his many nicknames.

Yusuf Ali (YA) and Attayah Ali Milton (AM)

YA: I have nicknames for each period from elementary school to high school, college, and in my professional life. Some of my friends know me affectionately as Joe Cool.

AM: Being cool was one of the things I do remember you teaching me.

YA: Yeah. You know, it’s a sense of pride. It’s a style, it’s the way you talk, it’s the aura that you have. And you can’t buy it, you can’t inherit it. Well, I should take that back, because you have those cool genes.

AM: Yeah, but I always laugh at your jokes.

YA: Yeah. [laughs] Like, the duck walks into this bar. He asks the bartender, ‘You got any grapes?’ The bartender says, ‘This is a bar, we ain’t got no grapes in here.’ Duck says, ‘Okay.’ Turn around, go home. The next day, go back to the bar. Say, ‘You got any grapes?’

AM: [laughs]

YA: The bartender say, ‘Didn’t I tell you we ain’t got no grapes?’ He said, ‘If you come in here tomorrow, I’m gonna nail your beak to the bar’. Next day, he go back in the bar. He say, ‘You got any nails?’ Bartender says, ‘I ain’t got no nails.’ He say, ‘Well, then you got any grapes?’

AM & YA: [laugh]

AM: You’re the best, dad. [laughs] Tell me a little bit about my childhood.

YA: Well, you were always a leader. I was a little concerned because the little girls that used to follow you, whatever you did, they would do. And it was always good that you, you know, did the right thing. 

AM: Yeah. You know, you taught me to think three times before I speak. You’ve been telling me that since I was very small. And, it’s really important that I share that with my kids because the words that we put out represent us.

YA: Oh yeah, of course. You know, one of the most important things in my life was the birth of you. You know, Attayah means a gift from Allah. A present that only can come from God. And, when you were born, you came out screaming with a voice, you know, uh, like, ‘I’m ready for this world.’

AM: Thank you. [laughs] Well, the most important question, Dad, that I have for you Okay?

YA: Okay.

AM: What’s the best nickname that you’ve had?

YA: Attayah’s father. 

AM & YA: [laugh]