Riley,
Today you are barely twenty months old and you have no idea of the importance of the events that took place today. And really, why should you? Your only concerns should be about getting fed, having a dry diaper, and having a warm snuggly place to sleep at night. Oh yeah, you also need people who love and cherish you, and you have that in abundance.
But back to today's events. It is a very big deal. Just fifty-one years ago, President Eisenhower had to nationalize the Guard in Arkansas to make sure that nine school children of color were escorted safely into what had been and all white school. That's a piece of history that seems impossible even to me today. It may seem like a long time ago, but that was only, ONLY, three years before I was born.
Our country had declared it's independence from Great Britain 176 years before that event in Little Rock, and within that document are these words: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It is my hope that today we have finally seen the realization of that statement.
It also wasn't that long ago that people of different races weren't allowed to marry each other, that people of color weren't allowed the right to vote, that they were expected to "know their place" which wasn't in the same theater balcony, restaurant, or part of the bus as their caucasian counterparts. It didn't matter who was better educated. It didn't matter who was more decent to other human beings. What mattered was the color of their skin. A truly horrifying and small minded way of doing business. And yes, while it's true that even today people still judge others by their appearance, it's become increasingly less acceptable.
As a caucasian man, I could never presume to truly know what the struggles of the African American community have been in this country over the centuries. Or what they have had to endure in that time. I only have my own experiences as some one who grew up looked down upon because we were poor and whose father was a drunk. The only other thing that would give me the smallest glimpse at what it's like to be a minority is being gay. But, I have to say that with a few exceptions, it's not been the hardest thing to deal with. I've not had people call me words that I won't repeat here. A couple of books to read when you're older are "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn" which are two classics of American literature that address race relations in this country in their proper
historical context.More than likely, when you are old enough to vote, you'll look back on the events of the past 76 days and wonder what the big deal was. You won't be able to fathom that even the thought an African American could be elected president (or hopefully even a woman) was in the realm of almost impossible. Maybe you will just look on the inauguration of another person of color as just another presidential event in the history of this country and will look upon it as you did today... laughing and eating diced pears as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
I love you sweetie,
Daddy Jim
1 comment:
Jim,
I had the same thoughts during this time, and politics aside, this was a moment for all americans to stop and realize how far we have come. Yet, as the mother of a little boy who I pray will have very few of the problems you addressed, I struggle with how much we really have changed. Will he and Riley never have to face prejudice and discrimination, do these historical times mean they will only know fairness and equality. Oh I pray so, for our babies and all children of all races. Thank you again for sharing yourself Jim Shue. xoxo
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