Columbus, Ga.: Fort Benning: Mid 1950s

[Cyrano]

An acquaintance of mine, was in advanced basic training at Ft. Benning, GA in the mid 1950s. He’s white and was originally from Rhode Island. He told me about the “White Only,” and “Colored” signs he saw on public water fountains, restrooms and elsewhere in town.

His platoon sergeant was black, a WWII vet who was born and raised in the South, and knew the areas of Columbus in which his presence was unwelcome.

One Sunday, my acquaintance asked the sergeant for a ride into town. The sergeant laughed and said, “Hey, you’re in the South now, boy. You gotta’ learn to watch your ass.”

My acquaintance replied something to the effect that, “Hey, we’re in uniform. You think these locals want to pick a fight with the army?”

After thinking about it for a moment, the sergeant said, “Ahh, screw it. Jump in.”

I recently ran into my acquaintance after not seeing him for over a year. We got to talking and when the conversation turned to politics, the subject of Obama running for president came up.

I’m certain I saw a hint of tears in his eyes as he shook his head and said, “Who would have thought?”

The world hasn’t changed quickly enough to suit most of us. But it sure as hell is changing.

[monmouth]

1. I remember in 1969 I had a new baby and stopped in one of the Carolinas

to go to a launderette. In one part of the laundry there was one light bulb in the building with a few African American women sitting waiting for their laundry. The other part of the laundry was well lit, had good machines, etc. Being from the north I was definitely confused. One of the ladies was kind enough to tell me I had to use the "good laundry" 'cause I was white. I was stunned. This was 1969!!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. My brother was at Ft. McClellan in 1965

we went down there from Illinois that summer when his daughter was born. Mom was scared our car would be torched or something because of our license plates. (We had seen what had happened to Civil Rights workers the summer before.) Once we went into a diner with a sign "We reserve the right to not seat everyone" Mom took me by the hand and we left. It was an eye opener for a young teen who had gone to integrated schools all her life.

[Cyrano]

3. I ran into it first-hand in the '70s. I was hitch-hicking through Alabama and

got a ride from an old guy in a pickup. (No, there was no shotgun on the back window.)

He seemed like a reasonably likeable person until we passed some people on the road and he used the "N" word.

At the time, I was naive enough to think that MLK, Bobby Kennedy and many others had changed the world. And I was astounded to hear him using this word in front of a stranger about whom he knew nothing and who might have taken offense.

My blood was boiling, but a few moments later, we passed a truck stop and I asked him to drop me off.

Should I have told him he was an ignorant piece of shit? Maybe. Does his attitude still exist in too much of the South, and many other parts of the country, today? Unfortunately, yes.

But as I said in the OP, the world is changing, but not quickly enough.

[monmouth]

4. It was common knowledge on the east coast if you were going south

(like to Florida for a winter vacation) make damn sure cars from NJ, NY travel through during daylight and stick to the speed limit exactly. If you had to stop to eat, best manners etc...