I grew up during the Civil Rights Era of the 1960’s. Many civil rights leaders and workers were beaten and killed. National leaders were assassinated. Innocent children and adults were tortured and killed. All these people were black or white people who supported the plight of black people. I was a child during this time and struggled to understand why. This hatred was painful and difficult to understand. Over fifty years later it continues to exist. Prejudice heavily weighs the symbolic scales of justice.
Based on articles I read, a common theme for prejudice is ignorance and fear. According to an article written in Jet magazine (June 20, 1968) Senator Robert Kennedy called on organized labor to help dispel these beliefs. He addressed the United Auto Workers convention in Atlantic City on May 10, 1968. He thought fear was a leading reason among some white men that the economic aspirations of the black man threatened their welfare and security. He said, “The most acute division in this country is not between the rich or poor, or old and young. It is among those whose income is low-among the unemployed black men and white working man who too often views the aspirations of the black man as a threat to his own security. We have to teach them the truth. By enriching the lives and raising the income of those now shut out from our society, we do not diminish the welfare of any among us. Rather, we increase the abundance of all of us.” Senator Kennedy was assassinated less than one month later.
I remember reading this enlightening article as a teenager. Hearing this information from a national leader helped me understand some of the “why”. I was impressed that political leaders were in a position to fight for what was right for everyone and some didn’t mind fighting. I understood why civil rights workers and leaders fought tirelessly for black people to have the right to vote. As a teenager, I was determined to grow my resolve. Just like others before me, I couldn’t allow someone else’s fear to prevent me from reaching my aspirations. I was more determined than ever.
Children and adults are affected by racism. Black children who grew up during these perilous times struggled to understand prejudice and how our nation could turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the racist acts of some people. We had to hope and believe that one day we would be included and valued in a world that seemed to revolve around us. Where is the nation’s conscience? We grew up pledging allegiance to the same U.S. flag that promised liberty and justice for all, yet we lived and felt the sting of exclusion based on our skin color.
My earliest memory as a child was frightening. My oldest brother is ten years my senior and was almost killed by a racist. I knew what happened but at the time, didn’t know the entire story. We lived in a shack on the farm of a racist constable. The constable owned several businesses in town and many people were afraid of him. He was of the opinion that black people were supposed to work in the cotton fields. In spite of a compulsory school law, he pulled black children out of school to work in his cotton fields and no one questioned his behavior. My brother is very intelligent and articulate. His goal was to graduate from high school and attend college. He informed the constable that Tennessee has a compulsory school law and that he will continue to go to school.
My brother was in high school and walked long distances to attend a segregated school. One day while walking home from school a white man stopped on the road to tell him he had work for him to do. He tried to convince my brother that he didn’t have to go to school; he would make sure he received good pay for his work. It was near nightfall and there were no other cars on the road. Suddenly, my brother said he saw headlights in the distance. The white man sped off in his car. The car with the headlights beaming stopped and he saw the face of one of his teachers!
The constable’s maid overheard a conversation between the constable and other men plotting to kill my brother. It is his belief that the man who stopped him tried to lure him in the car for this purpose. During those times, there were not many people with cars. He didn’t expect another car to be on the road. Most families did not have telephones and it was difficult to get timely information. The maid told one of the teachers about the plot and the teacher went looking for him. I believe if they didn’t intervene, my brother would have been killed and the crime covered up.
My parents developed a strategic plan to get my brother out of town immediately. Shortly afterwards, we used the same plan to escape to another location. Because of this, I didn’t grow up with my oldest brother. He lived with another family and excelled in high school. He was the president of his senior class and was awarded an academic scholarship to attend a private college in Chicago. Afterwards, he excelled in his Air Force and civilian careers.
My brother escaped being murdered because he stood up for his right to go to school. There are too many other people who were murdered. It pains me to think of people who were murdered and still being murdered under suspicious circumstances. Hatred spreads like a virus and it’s not okay. My first cousin disappeared suspiciously when he was sixteen years old. We never learned what happened to him. His disappearance was never investigated and there is no justice.
As I continued on my journey out of poverty, I had to be aware of the enemies that did not want me to achieve. Some of the enemies were revealed and some remained hidden. I learned to recognize both. There were many barriers that tried to block my way. I resolved to achieve in spite of my circumstances.
I shared in my blog that my father was a WWII veteran. He served with honor but because of racist laws, he was not able to obtain gainful employment after he was discharged. As a direct result, we lived in poverty. I will be forever grateful to the brave civil rights leaders and workers who were threatened, beaten and killed while fighting for equal rights. The civil rights laws are on paper and should be enforced.
We shouldn’t be living in a nation that is still torn by racism. We shouldn’t let the enemies of fear; indifference and racism affect our behavior. No one aspires to be poor and poor people are not liabilities. My passion is helping empower other people to overcome poverty. Sometimes, the past affects how we live in the present and future. The painful truth must be revealed so we can do better. It is my hope that more people will understand the plight of people who are struggling to survive without being judged or feared.
To prevail over poverty, we must do our part to change our mindset, stop discriminatory practices, and bridge the gap so everyone can integrate fully into American life. We are all human beings, citizens of the same nation, and valuable contributors to society.
Reference
Jet Magazine. Vol. XXXIV. No 11. June 20, 1968. Johnson Publishing Co., Inc. Chicago, IL.