I am an American I was born in the mid 1950s. My grandfathers both served in WW1 , my father served in WW2 , my mother worked in the defense industry during the WW2 her actual name was Betty not Rosie but she told me about her experiences during the war as did my father... I was taught the pledge of allegiance to the flag, the song America the Beautiful, and This is my Country. I was born an American, but during my time on this earth, I have been somehow downgraded to a Black or an African American ... And these days I guess some look at me as just a nigger, in the eyes of a lot of pundits and political types. Race was something thrust upon me at about 11 years old, it wasn't part of my home training , mother never told me to stay away from those people or these people...
As I became older I was made aware of my differences , although I followed the path laid before me my race started to be a question on applications for jobs and programs ... About the same time I applied for a social security card was the first time I saw NEGRO on a form and checked it. Funny thing is when I went to elementary school there was just kids who played, learned, ate and walked home together they weren't white or black.. Oh I forgot to mention we were all from a poor working class neighborhoods that was cross sectioned to the school.
I don't recall the teacher telling me that I was black... Or the principal... Or even the janitor...They also never took note to the fact that they were white!!!! Later when I joined the Military and the first thing I learned was a concept of "I'm Ok Your Ok" everybody is ok..... It wasn't until I joined the civilian workforce when I experienced RACISM in a very "BOLD AND UNABASHED WAY". This is when I learned THE CONCEPT OF GOOD WHITE PEOPLE AND BAD WHITE PEOPLE.
The ones who treated you as if you were no different from them because you spoke English like they did had a personality as they did, and came to work and get paid for your labor "Good White people". Then their was the ones who told nigger jokes to you or just before you walked up, and always seemed to be against you in every possible way. I learned to distinguish from the two... In order to sum this up .. I know that some of you are Good white people.... And some of you are Bad white people .. It just seems like the good white people are voiceless and the Bad white people have a megaphone these days...
RACISM IS POISON TO AMERICA ... AND AS LONG AS ITS NOT CALLED OUT...IT WILL FLOURISH....I know some will take offense to this post and start asking about good and bad black people .... This is not about that this is about me being honest with you. I am disappointed because now days little kids can't even grow up disillusioned until the age of 11.. They just get it raw and personal from the start...