Our high school graduating class occupied maybe three rows of seats in the auditorium! But we had TWO race riots at that school during the 60's and early 70's. I was young enough that one of my best friends pushed me into the Chorus room and locked the door to keep me out of harms way. He was black; I was white. I got a chance to thank him decades later when I was back home at a school reunion. There were several kids and some teachers who were hurt. Lord knows what would have happened to the toll if guns had been available back then!
I had my innocence stolen, tho. I had a favorite teacher who taught American Politics and American Government, as well as what could be called a Religious History class back then. I remember the latter because a PK and I got into a great hour long discussion in the class (I was the granddaughter of a preacher, and had several in my family). But the teacher was on a racist side of the riots, and brought out what I considered a weapon. I really liked this teacher for making thing and bringing me out of my shell to actually speak my mind. He sat me down and talked against marriage to me and what doors could open to me in the future. But here he was, fighting AGAINST what I was living for! It was a really hard lesson for me in interpersonal dynamics. How someone can be so "good" in one way and so "bad" in another. But it was a completely different age at that time, I recognize. I just still, at 67, don't condone it.
I'm still a hippie at heart. Probably always will be. And I'm proud of it. We may not have accomplished what we wanted, but we at least sowed the seeds. And they did NOT fall on fallow ground. I just have a hard time realizing the fights I fought back then are here today, 50 years later?! It's just not right. We women are NOT going back to being slaves to our uteri. And our families can't afford for us to do it, either. I remember days when it only took one middle class paycheck to take care of a family. I also remember when those days left us, and my Mom had to find anything she could find to help "supplement" the family's income. I remember going to work at my grandma's beauty shop every day after school to earn enough money to buy things I wanted... like $.25 for a Tiger Beat magazine. Or putting it into savings until I'd saved up enough for a bicycle. And don't even ask about my motorcycles!!! My dad got me hooked on those, and oh, do I have stories! (LOL)
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