This is my very first diary so forgive my niavity in this process.
A Christmas present was given to me by my loving parents (not Santa Claus) the year that I turned 10. I was given two small identical "baby dolls" that were not much bigger than my hands, cute little rubbery baby faces clothed in the same tiny diaper and t-shirt. I said to my Mother, Mommy why did you give me two dolls? Even at only 10 years old I knew money was tight and that the gifts had to be shared with my siblings.
My subtle lessons about racial bigotry...
What happened next was that my Mom gently took both dolls and put them in one of her hands and said - I want you to look closely at the dolls, I want you to touch and feel them as if you are part of the dolls. I did what she said to do even though I didn't quite understand. You see they both look the same don't you? Well yeah sort of Mom, but one is brownish black and the other is white, and then I said to her, everything else is the same. She gave the dolls back to me and gave me a big hug and said you are so right honey, and don't ever forget what you have told me today about your present. She hugged me so hard and I remember I was so pleased with myself. To me, that meant she loved me and liked my answers to her questions.
And so having lived through the fifties and sixties I certainly have so many memories in regards to the race issues across America. What a sad time for our country. It seemed as if we were being torn apart by color and in fact we were. Both blacks and whites witnessed the bigotry. I actually was not involved with racial bigotry personally I suppose because I lived in the Northeast part of the US, in a small town where the population was not of a mixed race.
But I did see it through the TV news splashing the images across the screen. And I was also sure I could not have felt the same agony and suffering that I was witnessing right before my very own eyes! There was mass confusion, hate, killings, horror, fear and devastation. God only knew what else I could not see. Instinctively though, I knew it was not right nor fair. I just did not understand. Why, I would ask myself again and again. Why would good people harm and hate another human being and for what reason? What was to be gained by being so mean spirited? What were so many people afraid of?
45 years later I am still a little disappointed and saddened that we have not come further in this racial division. But because of Barack Obama and all of my friends that are fellow Democrats, I am also hopeful that a new chapter of forgiveness and acceptance is about to begin in our great country. And I am so very thankful for my parents who gave me such a precious present in more ways than one, who taught me such a valuable - two different/same doll lesson.
Today is our Tomorrow. We are all in this together as one nation. So with much hope and love to you all I can now tell you that I am a White 60ish Female wishing for the very best that I know we can all be. Yes we Can and must come together, as one people.
Our Future is Now