In the 1960's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke these words "I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."
Almost 50 years later I live in an Alabama where little girls and boys of all skin tones do live and play and go to church and school together as brothers and sisters. Things may not be perfect yet, but we shouldn't take the progress we've made for granted.
I work at an elementary school that is racially diverse. Recently one of the teachers read a book about Rosa Parks to her third graders. She had to stop frequently to discuss the issues raised in the book because these children have no concept of segregation. They were all appalled and confused. So finally the teacher said, "Back in those days the white and the black people did everything separately. They went to different schools and different churches and used different entrances and different water fountains. In fact, black and white children couldn't even play together. So (she pointed out two boys in the class) you two couldn't have been friends back then." The little African American boy looked down at his arm and said, "I'm black? I thought I was brown." He had made it 8 years without falling prey to racial stigma.
And it was in that moment that I knew. Alabama has come a long way. We still have some work to do - but I think Dr. King would be proud of us.
9 comments:
Betsy, what a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of October. =) Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking blog. You're awesome.
This makes me happier than anything I've read in a very long time. Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh Betsy! Your blog gave me chills. It was so beautiful, the message so powerful. Our country is moving in a good direction and slowly we are becoming a "united" United States. Thank you for sharing such important insight into such an important topic.
Your blog brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. What a powerful story. It really touched me. Thanks for sharing.
Betsy, what a beautiful blog. When I finished doing my research for the Civil War series, I was so despondant and depressed. So much has happened since those days, though, and I'm so grateful to see the evidence that we're moving steadily in the right direction.
Thanks so much for the reminder! You know, I tell my kids about the 50s and presegregation times and they're flabbergasted.
Oops. Not "presegregation times". You know what I meant. Der, I'm tired. ;-)
Beautiful, Betsy! Thank you.
I read your blog yesterday before I went to the temple. I found myself thinking about it while I sat at the front of a session and looked out to see at least four different races represented in the room, four faces were black. It was one of those lovely moments when I felt there is a lot that is right and getting better in t his world.
Post a Comment