Damn.
I am a World War II baby (black) and not one soul has ever attempted to lynch me..I don't know..although to hear that millions of my brethern have been hung sort of scares me.
Geezz...you'd think that there would be more proof?? I mean - millions?? I've heard of "maybe" 20 or 30 but millions!?!?
I would think that our first mulatto president might look into that, though.....It would really serve his "racially diverse" attitude that he has recently taken on.......
just wondering if you can help me Randall.., i am a pre WWII baby, i was born in Ohio, lived in Florida during most of WWII, my memories of relationships with "colored" people (kids, boys and girls my age) was quite limited yet we had gotten together on many occasions.., believe it or not, i recall "working" along side of those folks picking cotton, tobacco pickles and watermelons, we (my cousins and i) played together in the water after a hard rain naked, (that was my first time ever seeing a naked female) to me those kids were just kids of a darker color than i, we had separate schools and churches, i recall the elders referring to the "black" folks as "*******" and it seemed quite acceptable at the time (1940's)............, sooooooo, i presume you are in your late 60's, were you ever called a "******" to your face, (pre 1960) and if you were did you get offended, during the tumultuous 1960's and post 1960's i can understand being offended, i do not recall using the word "******" until those 1960's. today i believe all shades of people from lilly white to coal black can be a "******" simply by their actions.., would you agree ? i have great respect for many "colored" people and great disdain for those of
any color who are thugs, rapists, murderers, thieves, hate mongers etc., i am reasonably sure you will agree................,
your comment please !
Thank you so much for your post. I grew up with my Father being one of the first Black Staff Officers in the "new at the time" Air Force. He retired in 1967 as a Brigadier General. I had the opportunity to travel with my folks all over the world at different bases. I have seen signs on restaurants that said "No Colored Allowed" in Kentucky and I have also seen signs that read "No Indians Served" in Arizona.
I have seen segregated public schools in Alabama and Mississippi. I have seen separate water fountains for blacks and whites in Missouri but I also saw "Nein Auslanders" (Non-Germans not welcome) in Munich. I have seen "We Do Not Serve Colored" at a barbershop in Dallas Texas and I have seen "Negroes need not apply" in Colorado and I've seen "Americans go home" in Turkey.
I've seen White only Churches in America and Muslim only Churches in Iran. I've seen open hatred for blacks in America and I've seen open hatred for Jews in Germany.
I've been called "******" in Los Angeles and Phoenix City Alabama. I have called whites "honky" and "cracker" in Lincoln Nebraska and Killeen, Texas.
As a post script: I also remember vividly, going to Daytona Beach in the 60s and not being allowed on the beaches there. The prevailing wisdom at the time was that it was a good idea to stay away....
My Father told me, when I was a child, about "content of character". He also taught me about human nature. People lash out at what they don't understand or are afraid of. It's life. I have never taken "name calling" as a personal insult. Hell, I'm just as guilty as the next guy. We can either choose to wallow in ignorance or stand up and grow in intelligence.
I have had a wonderful life. I served in the Army for 22 years and retired as a CWO. I married the love of my Life. We have 2 wonderful kids and 4 beautiful grand children. I retired from a civilian occupation (25 years) and we now live on a large parcel of ground in beautiful Montana. I don't have many neighbors, but the ones I have (5 miles away) are kind and friendly people. The people here don't call me names under their breath. Trust me, I know what that's like.
Up here, we are more concerned about the hunting and fishing than we are about "skin color". We leave that to those "intellectual elites" down there in the "big cities".