>Changing Times
>One of the most memorable interviews I did as a television reporter was in Columbia, South Carolina, when I spoke with a man who had worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 50s and 60s.
At his house, we sat for a long time looking at newspaper clippings and pictures of various demonstrations against segregation that he’d helped organize as a young man. I was about 23 at the time and felt more like a student than a reporter as I looked at the photographs of sit-ins outside the state park and in the downtown area, Whites Only signs outside bathrooms and buildings and angry sneers on the faces of the city’s white residents as they confronted their Black neighbors.
“You know,” I said, looking up at him, “I have to say I’m dumbfounded looking at this. I feel bad, but I can’t even imagine living in a place where this was allowed to happen.”
“Don’t feel bad,” he said, smiling. “My grandchildren say the very same thing when they look at these pictures.” Tears formed in his eyes as he continued talking. “And to be honest, hearing your generation say that makes me feel like we accomplished so much during that time. What more could I ask for, than to have my grandchildren look at pictures of segregation and say, ‘I just can’t relate to that?”
Oh, I’m under no illusions that racism is a thing of the past, believe me. But that conversation had a profound impact on me in terms of realizing the degree of change during the Civil Rights Movement. Even now, I see far less racial prejudice among my stepdaughters’ generation than there was among mine at their age. The further removed we are from segregation and outright prejudice, the less sense it makes. When I told the girls several months ago that some adults are still really opposed to their children dating someone of a different race, they were literally flabbergasted.
“Why on earth would that matter to anyone?” they asked, genuinely surprised. I couldn’t believe that in the short period of time (15 years) between my adolescence and theirs, interracial teen relationships were no longer a topic of gossip or discussion among their schoolmates, even in the fairly conservative, Bible Belt area in which we live.
I seriously wonder whether racism will ever be entirely eliminated; I think humans have a natural fear and mistrust for those who aren’t “like them,” whether the difference lies in their age, their gender, their religious beliefs or their skin color. But I think this day is a good one to celebrate how far we’ve come as a society in 40 short years, and how much further we can take it in the decades to come.
>Bravo! I just did a post about racism too (http://www.thesoccermomvote.com/the_soccer_mom_vote/2007/01/racismor_not.html)I think we’ve come further than some people want us to believe. But also not as far as we should have.
>WELL PUT.
>You’ve had some interesting experiences in your career. Each time you share a tidbit, I admire you a litte more for your easy way with people and for how good you are at anything you do. And I couldn’t agree more with this post, except for those circumcised men. I mean who do they think they are? Wanting the same rights as the rest of us! Ludicrous.
>I agree that today is a day to celebrate advancement. In fact, LOL, I blogged about the same concept this morning on my blog.A post not about Martin Luther King Jr. on the occasion of his birthday (observed)I also think that there is so much more to all of this.Such an interesting story. I can really relate.I agree that some people simply will not be able to get past boxing up people into stereotypes and divvying people into Us and Them categories…the bigger trouble happens when the “and” changes to a “versus.”But today…yes…we’ve made such strides.
>Great post. And so true. My children don’t understand what the big deal of today is. When I explained the history of the day to them they were flabbergasted.They are constantly pushing for us to adopt a different race child, because they “are so darned cute.”Ah, I love ’em so…
>Lindsay, Great post and great rememberance about today. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in 40 years and amazing how far that some still need to go….Thanks!
>I know that I feel the way that you do, and I hope my kids would react just as your step-daughters did.But, are there still many places in our country where racism lives and breaths strongly? Oh yes. It wasn’t until I moved away from my hometown that I realized there were no black people in it at all. And, while that has changed some, I know some very good people still who are racist…more out of ignorance and afraid of people’s differences, but that still does not excuse it.I really wish I could say as you did that you can’t imagine a time when that went on. But, really, where I grew up, sometimes it still DOES go on. It is sad to admit, but we still have a ways to go…
>I know that I feel the way that you do, and I hope my kids would react just as your step-daughters did.But, are there still many places in our country where racism lives and breaths strongly? Oh yes. It wasn’t until I moved away from my hometown that I realized there were no black people in it at all. And, while that has changed some, I know some very good people still who are racist…more out of ignorance and afraid of people’s differences, but that still does not excuse it.I really wish I could say as you did that you can’t imagine a time when that went on. But, really, where I grew up, sometimes it still DOES go on. It is sad to admit, but we still have a ways to go…
>It’s amazing to consider what the men and women of the civil rights movement accomplished. Amazing. And while racism may never be fully extinct, we can thank those pioneers for pushing for the legislation that made America a land of equal opportunity. And I hope everyone listed to the “I Have a Dream” speech today. It will make you cry. Yes indeedy, it will make you cry.
>Since I still can’t log in….Please pardon me a moment of Harry Potter/X-Men fandomism, but….””Why?” Harry blurted out. “I’ve always wondered about that, you know? It’s not like it makes any sense. My uncle and aunt are like that, bloody prejudiced.””Fear,” Summers replied. “Or at least, that’s my theory. They’re afraid of some perceived power the other group has that they don’t, or afraid of differences generally. Humans are pack animals by nature, and seek belonging, but it’s always seemed to me that some find differences interesting — people who have enough belief in themselves not to feel threatened. Others are frightened by anything not like them, and see differences as somehow potentially dangerous.”Harry was nodding, as if that confirmed something he thought, too, and Hermione said, “People are afraid of mutants for their powers. They think mutants are dangerous. That’s also why people once persecuted witches and wizards. We seemed threatening, and not just religiously.””Exactly,” Summers agreed. “The fear needn’t be irrational. Some mutants have hurt others — either deliberately or by accident when their powers manifested. But a criminal with a gun is just as deadly, or a criminal with a wand. As I understand it, there are wizarding laws, and wizard police who pursue and arrest magical wrong-doers — “”Aurors,” Harry broke in. “Dark-wizard catchers.””Having power of any kind brings with it — I think — a certain responsibility. Whether that power is magic or something you get from your DNA — or wealth or special talent or extra intelligence . . . whatever it is, it brings responsibility. We may not ask for it, but that doesn’t absolve us. I realize not everyone would agree, but then, I also tend to think we have a certain responsibility to each other as members of the human race, and to the rest of the planet, since we live here.””That was written by a woman I know who is American Indian, though that’s probably not what she’d call herself. No matter how far we’ve come from Dr. King’s days, what Min writes is still true. It’s not skin color, it’s not language. It’s not culture or tradition. It’s a combination of those things, from ALL races/languages/cultures/religions/regions/etc…that make people *fear* what they don’t know. We “know” that blacks aren’t different from whites now. Why can’t the same be said for gays and lesbians? Why can’t the same be said for those of middle-eastern looks. Why can’t the same be said for Muslims in general? *Everyone* in this country is supposed to have equal rights now. But they don’t. Religion and fear of terrorism have taken the place of segregation. I don’t mean to flame those who are religious….but do unto others? It’s a sore spot for me as I’m agnostic and my fiance is atheist, yet we’re trying to raise my girls to understand *all* religions, or lack thereof. To be respectful of others’ ways of life. And that, to me, is what Dr. King’s message was about. Not just race, but overall equality for *all* people. We don’t see that right now. Not at all. And until we do, Dr. King’s message is in vain. Meg
>Great post!!! You really amaze me.
>I, too, blogged about this and my own experiences. It’s amazing how our parents generation, to ours, to our children’s is changing.Would I be opposed to one of my children dating someone of color? Not if they’re loved.
>I had the pleasure explaining MLK Jr. day to my son for the first time last night. I tried explaining to him that MLK lived in a time when people looked at someone and thought they could tell if you were good or bad or smart or whatever, just by what your skin color was.He wrinkled up his little nose at me and said “that’s just dumb. Everyone knows that’s not true!”And, like you, I realized that at least a part of The Dream had come true.
>I live in California and have always felt blessed that I did not have many overly racist experiences (I am African American). When I was in college I took a trip to Nashville for school. It was during Lent and I wanted to attend mass for Palm Sunday. It was very important to me. So we went searching for a Catholic Church and finally found one. As we were leaving, my friend went up to shake the priest hand and I was behind her. How devestated was I that he shook her hand and then walked away like I didn’t exist. I’ll never forget it.
>I really hope that MY grandchildren are able to say “I just can’t imagine a world where gay people couldn’t get married. That must have sucked.” I can see it coming, anyway. 🙂
>great post.
>Great post!! And for what it’s worth, we miss you here in Columbia!!!! Wanna come back? hee hee