Tina: I grew up in the sixties when racial
discrimination was a spotlighted issue in a turbulent time of national change. Martin
Luther King and his supporters proclaimed their mission for racial equality
from the airwaves of television. Probably as a result of being raised in a
small southern community that based its values on the Bible, I never saw gross
injustices committed against another race. When I started the first grade in
1966, our school was already integrated. In fact, I had an African American
teacher who I believe all the children loved. Before we started class each day
she would play the piano and sometimes sing. I remember two songs that she
played regularly-‘Battle Hymn of The Republic’ and ‘Jimmie Crack Corn’ (or ‘The
Blue Tail Fly’).
Listening to the history
of racial segregation made me sensitive to the great harm done by prejudices of
varying kinds. As I’ve progressed through life I have discovered the many ways
we can pre-judge people just because they may act or look a little different
than us. The following excerpt from my book ‘Keeper of the Stars’ is a
expression of that realization.
On the ride home, a
jumble of voices blurted out their insights and opinions of the movie they'd
watched for almost two hours. "You know the part where the reporter broke
the story about the racist congressman that got the black singer
pregnant?" Sheena asked.
"Yes I know. I
loved the scene where..." Arizona interjected but was interrupted as
Sheena spoke again.
"That reporter
reminded me of my Uncle Buster. He's got the biggest nose and neck of anyone
I've ever seen. And he's the most racist person I know."
"I don't see how
they could live through all the prejudice that happened back then," Julie
said with bewildered eyes. Sometimes it makes me ashamed to have white skin."
From the back seat,
Arizona told her, "You're not exactly white skinned. You're darker than me
or Sheena and we're not pale. Besides, we didn't live in slavery times or the
sixties or earlier, so we can't be blamed for people's prejudices back
then---or for them now as far as that goes. Anyway the movie was called
"Unsung Heroes" because it was about people of all races who fought
against racial injustice. And some of them had to pay a big price for it too."
She continued thoughtfully, "Just look at
Grandma, Reba and Joseph. They've been friends for about half a century and
they lived through the sixties."
Julie pondered a
moment, and said, "I've thought about that before too. Mom told me that
Mamaw had to hide their friendship from her mother and other people too. And
the weird or ironic thing is that our great grandmother had Indian and
Melungeon blood herself. And she knew what it was like to be treated like she
was no good because of the color of her skin."
Dean spoke next,
"Don't forget us Spanish speaking people, especially Mexicans like
me." He paused and grinned comically at each girl. "We're accused of
being lazy, drunken thieves."
"Let's
see...ummm, lazy. Well your mother would probably agree. Drunken. You have hung
out with Kyle some. So that's likely. Now, the one that's left---thief. Yep to
that too. I'm a witness. Remember when you stole my answers during a History
quiz in Mr. Cooper’s class?" Arizona finished speaking with a twinkle in
her eyes.
Suddenly the car
filled up with chortling, giggling, and snickering. "Good one Zoni. I'll
get my revenge though."
"Speaking of
revenge, I've got some things I need to discuss with you and Sheena." Then
she began to explain her plan to get back at her ex-boyfriend.
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