Racism: How We Feel it Everyday.
Racism is one of those things that seem so obviously wrong that you would think that it wouldn't be a problem any longer. Unfortunately as any can attest racism is still a problem. Today a lot of it is more covert and in someways more insidious. You will find that many people will swear up and down that they are not racist and perhaps they even believe it however they support many of the policies and institutions that are designed to maintain a white power majority.
My first realization of racial tension came we I was in kindergarten. It was 1974 and the civil rights movement was still being openly resisted in places all over the south, places like Lake County Florida. It had only been a few short years since the Lake County Sheriff made national news when an Orlando Sentinel story reported the FBI had launched yet another investigation in racially motivated crimes including murder committed by the sheriffs office. That made him the most investigated law enforcement officer in U.S. history. This became such a big story that it was picked by the AP and reprinted by papers all over the country including the New York Times. Earning the reporter a Pulitzer Prize, and more death threats than she could count. Some of the the threats came from the sheriff himself in the form of “warnings” about different people in the area who have been so riddled with guilt about spreading such terrible rumors about him they hung themselves from the nearest tree. To this day many consider Sheriff McCall to a great man. I guess the good old days aren't so good after all.
As I was saying, I was in kindergarten when a fight broke out between two high school students one white one black. They were both suspended, which was uncommon then. The white boys parents were upset and made some calls to the local KKK and the next day the Klan showed up to demand the principal allow the white student back in. The school board caved in and brought back the white student. By noon the parents of the black student were demanding the same to no avail. For the next three days several hundred angry blacks and whites faced off in the streets of Mt. Dora, and it looked like we would have an all out riot at any minute. Angry mobs on both sides were roaming the streets stopping traffic beating on cars and throwing bottles. The police were telling everyone to stay out of downtown, and from around the schools. The schools were ordered to stay open, they were denying the problem even existed. They just needed to hold out until Easter three days away. Surly no one would riot on Easter Sunday. They were right, and calmer heads prevailed. When school stared back up the next week the police were stationed in the schools. In time things just sort of died down, but every one still remembers how bad things got that spring.
I remember asking my mom why people were hitting our car and trying to stop us from going to school after all I had a very important Easter egg hunt to go to. My parents tried to explain it to me, but couldn't I just had more important things to than fight over something so silly as the color of your skin. I knew Fred and Earl were two black kids in my class and they were my friends, Earl was a year older than us so he was automatically the coolest kid in class. As a kindergärtner I just couldn't understand what the big deal was. Like I said I had more important things to do.
I guess thats basically how I feel now. I just don't have the time worry about silly things like color. With things like war, the economy, education, work,and family I don't have the time for nonsense.
My first realization of racial tension came we I was in kindergarten. It was 1974 and the civil rights movement was still being openly resisted in places all over the south, places like Lake County Florida. It had only been a few short years since the Lake County Sheriff made national news when an Orlando Sentinel story reported the FBI had launched yet another investigation in racially motivated crimes including murder committed by the sheriffs office. That made him the most investigated law enforcement officer in U.S. history. This became such a big story that it was picked by the AP and reprinted by papers all over the country including the New York Times. Earning the reporter a Pulitzer Prize, and more death threats than she could count. Some of the the threats came from the sheriff himself in the form of “warnings” about different people in the area who have been so riddled with guilt about spreading such terrible rumors about him they hung themselves from the nearest tree. To this day many consider Sheriff McCall to a great man. I guess the good old days aren't so good after all.
As I was saying, I was in kindergarten when a fight broke out between two high school students one white one black. They were both suspended, which was uncommon then. The white boys parents were upset and made some calls to the local KKK and the next day the Klan showed up to demand the principal allow the white student back in. The school board caved in and brought back the white student. By noon the parents of the black student were demanding the same to no avail. For the next three days several hundred angry blacks and whites faced off in the streets of Mt. Dora, and it looked like we would have an all out riot at any minute. Angry mobs on both sides were roaming the streets stopping traffic beating on cars and throwing bottles. The police were telling everyone to stay out of downtown, and from around the schools. The schools were ordered to stay open, they were denying the problem even existed. They just needed to hold out until Easter three days away. Surly no one would riot on Easter Sunday. They were right, and calmer heads prevailed. When school stared back up the next week the police were stationed in the schools. In time things just sort of died down, but every one still remembers how bad things got that spring.
I remember asking my mom why people were hitting our car and trying to stop us from going to school after all I had a very important Easter egg hunt to go to. My parents tried to explain it to me, but couldn't I just had more important things to than fight over something so silly as the color of your skin. I knew Fred and Earl were two black kids in my class and they were my friends, Earl was a year older than us so he was automatically the coolest kid in class. As a kindergärtner I just couldn't understand what the big deal was. Like I said I had more important things to do.
I guess thats basically how I feel now. I just don't have the time worry about silly things like color. With things like war, the economy, education, work,and family I don't have the time for nonsense.
posted by rob @ Thursday, March 23, 2006
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