Dear fellow
travelers,
My last
Pondering for me brought back many memories of where life was
and projecting it forward, what history has taken place over the
years since I was born. I should probably write "around
me", because that Pondering ties in with this current one
through the movie "The Butler" that I just saw-(-a must see, if not
twice). It brought back more memories of those time periods which I lived
through, as you may have.
Memories for me of the civil rights movements, which were incorporated in
the film through the older son, a fictitious character added to
intertwine the segregation and civil rights movements that were portrayed
during the film. Also I just watched "42" the Jackie Robinson
movie. Wow-- a double whammy.
I lived in
Texas for a few years in the late 40's, and at a young age, I can still
remember going to the football games with my family, sitting in the
grandstands, and hearing the obscenities being hollowed at the black football
players and band members. I remember cringing, and wondering how these
people could be so nasty and mean, they didn't even know those people,
not that that should make a difference. And I still wonder how so
much meanest could have come from those people.
I am really
grateful that my family was not racially prejudice, I didn't grow up in
that type of home environment . and those attitudes were and are foreign
to me But obviously that wasn't and hopefully still isn't the same
for other households.
My regret is
that I didn't do anything to help with the integration or civil rights
movements when they were at their prime. I so admire the people who
did. I honor all the people who made those changes happen!!
When I think
of that particular time period, I was a single mom, with the
"woman" in the work place challenge. Getting a credit card in
my name was a challenge, then a mortgage for a house in my name, using only my
salary was a challenge, but I did it, and then moving thru the glass ceiling
happened with the EEOC. But that wasn't life of death, just higher wages,
and better jobs in a male dominated society.
We have come
far as a country--obviously-- a black president, one of the richest in all ways
black women, many black company presidents, and intermarriage isn't a
taboo or illegal any more. To me, all good, in all ways.
Moving in a
different direction but another current upward movement is the "same
sex" marriage law.
But where
else do we need to travel?? what am I not seeing??
What else
needs to be changed?? Where is our consciousness??
Change does
happen--sometimes at a much higher cost than necessary.
What price
am I willing to pay??
Just
Pondering on change and history and attitudes
Rev Linda Patton, ENTC
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