Rascism: A personal perspective

[liberaltrucker]

I'm a lily-white guy born in Jasper, Alabama March 11, 1954. I remember, as a 9 year old, the grainy pictures
on the TV, live, of Bull Connor's dogs and fire hoses in Woodrow Wilson Park in Birmingham. I asked my folks
what the big deal was. The reply: "Them n****** just wannna make trouble". Hey, I was 9, so I accepted it.

Not long afterward, the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed. 3 young black girls were killed. My Mother
cried. Remembering the dog and hose incidents, I asked: "Ain't they just n******, wantin' to make trouble"?
Holy crap, I got the whoopin' of my life. She explained that children are just that. As a child myself, I took
it at face value. However, my ass hurt for a week. :)

As I grew and matured, I came into contact with people of various races, ethnicities, religions. I learned to
respect people as human beings, just like me. Just a bit different. Different skin color, different religion,
different culture. But human, just like me.

Today, at the ripe old age of 54, I have a confession. Have I ever uttered the N word? Yes. What white,
or for the matter, black person hasn't? That word is offensive no matter the skin color of the person
uttering it. Have I laughted at ethnic (Black, Polish, Mexican, Irish, Redneck) jokes? Yes. And so have you.
See, we're human, and can celebrate our differences, even find humor.

In closing, my small hometown in Walker County, Alabama had, um, n***** quarters. Today, nobody calls it by
that name, but African Americans in Carbon Hill, Alabama still live in that particular location. Segregation
still exists, just not by law. I tried talking to a couple of ministers, but all I get is "don't rock the boat".

Is this 2008 and I'm 54, or 1963 and I'm 9?

:mad:

[stellanoir]

1. I'm a 13th generational american on my mum's side.

But I'm mostly Sottish. I've never uttered the "N" word., nor will I ever.

I've more often been guilty of reverse racism.

Despite the plethora of racism and sexism, I am perceiving more generational divisions.

That's all.

[baldguy]

2. My house was built in 1920, I bought it in 1997.

On the original deed, in beautiful long hand script it states, "the Deed Holder agrees that any and all Negro servants shall be within the Village limits only during daylight hours, and shall leave each day before sunset."

The Village of Kenmore, in the Town of Tonawanda, Erie County, New York. Racism has touched us all, one way or another. It is truly America's Original Sin.

[malaise]

4. I disagree

It's an English sin which left a sorry stain everywhere the British went. Yes Americans continued to practice it after Independence, and while there have been many improvements, the question is what does America plan to do about it in 2008?

[margotb822]

5. check out this site!

truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com

[margotb822]

3. I'm half black and half white

My parents dated in the 60's and married in the 70's. I find nothing more offensive than the youth of today calling each other n*****s and crackers (see, why do I have to censor one word, but not the other). They don't realize how much hate is behind those words. They sound ignorant and rude and disconnected. We need to get rid of the words, but more importantly, the idea that its ok to distinguish people by race.

[liberaltrucker]

7. Aren't we just "people"

Regardless of the presence or absence of melanin in our skin cells.

Regardless of whatever Deity we worship, or not.

Whomever we fall in live with, regardless of gender.

Whomever we vote for, regardless of race or gender.

We are Americans. Not white. Not black. Americans. If
you need help, I'll die or kill for you, if need be. My
guess is you feel the same.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Amen! And the usage is so common now.

"Disconnected" is probably the key--adults not bothering or sometimes afraid to stand against those words. :grr:

[JohnnyLib2]

6. Wonderfully honest, personal post.

Recommended, for painful awareness

[liberaltrucker]

9. Painful awareness has been in my heart

For many years. If y'all could only see what I do every time I go home.

And not a goddamned thing I can do about it. Not that I haven't tried.

"Don't rock the boat".

Let's just say there are those with VERY accurate, um, deer rifles.

At least, that's what I was told.

[Karenina]

8. Give your mama a hug from me.

You didn't really deserve her punishment, but through it she taught you well.

[liberaltrucker]

11. That she did

Link emailed to her. Truth be known, she tanned my hide for many other
transgressions well deserved. :)

[misanthrope]

10. One minor correction...

...that was Kelly Ingram Park, adjacent to Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where the protesters were attacked by law enforcement.

I grew up right up the hill from there--Bush Hills in Ensley--in the years following it.

[liberaltrucker]

12. I stand corrected

:blush:

:hi: from 64 county!

'cept I'm in Richmond, VA tonight.

[Elwood P Dowd]

14. As a 61-year-old resident of Alabama, I can tell you

that what you are describing varies from location to location. I was born and have lived in this state for 55 of my 61 years. In my current neighborhood, at least 40% of the population is black. There are areas that are 99% black or 99% white, and there are areas like mine. Just depends on your location. BTW, the area of NW Alabama where you live has a much smaller black population than where I live in SE Alabama. Winston County, Alabama, not far from you, actually seceded from the State Of Alabama during the Civil War. Many people in North Alabama and Tennessee were against the war, and some even fought for the Union Army.

When I lived in the Washington, DC metro, there were areas that were 99% black and 99% white. My roommate was from New England, and he hated black people worse than almost anyone I've met in my life. He was a poor kid from the Northeast drafted into the Army like me, yet my Alabama ass was far more liberal or progressive than his.

[liberaltrucker]

16. I live 10 miles from the Winston County line

Just up CR 11 and AL 5. Winston County residents, to this day, are proud
of "The Free State of Winston". As they should. But, galdarnit, it's still DRY!

But, I get your point. If you get a chance to get to (wet) Jasper, the drinks
are on LTwife and me.

[Elwood P Dowd]

18. Is Marion County still dry?

My parents are from that neck of the woods. I remember going to a family reunion decades ago, and we had to drive 30 miles over into Mississippi to find some beer.

[liberaltrucker]

20. Yeah, Marion's dry

So's Walker. But Jasper's wet. Nearest watering hole from me is 12.234 miles.

:toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. My dear liberaltrucker...

What a beautiful, thoughtful post...

Alas, I have no answers for you...

I grew up in lily-white neighborhoods, with schools to match...

I didn't actually encounter any Black people until I went to college...

I knew their history, and I was careful to be nice to them...

I felt so much outrage at what had been done to them!

In so many ways, we have not progressed very much...

K&R

:patriot:

[liberaltrucker]

17. Thanks, Peggy

:hug:

:loveya:

[arthritisR_US]

19. great post and ty! K & R n/t