Regarding White Folks

[H2O Man]

12. Very interesting.

Thank you for this response.

My brother has asked me if I'm ever concerned that the opposition might attempt to use my past to smear my reputation. I was an angry teenager, to put it mildly. As a young man, I was involved in what might be called "radical political activism." And there are some people who still view me that way.

In fact, when I was first running for the school board, one of the principals told the assistant superintendent that I was "a wild-eyed radical" and "nothing but trouble." Neither of them had ever met me. The assistant superintendent and I have become friends. He told me that, when he first met me, he thought I was scary. While he is rather conservative, he now realizes that my contributions to the school have value.

That principal still gets nervous when talking with me. I don't get it -- I don't think I have wild eyes. However, I understand and appreciate what you said about how one's past can be used to confuse the public about who we are today.