Has it really been 50 years?? There is an incredible new documentary being released about the Freedom Riders who helped carry the torches of racial equality into the dark, hateful abyss of the segregated south. It's so easy to fall back and think that, as just one person, we have no power to affect change. But remember...once upon a time, there was no internet. There were no home computers or voicemail or answering machines. If you're fortunate enough to have elder family members who were kids, teens or young 20somethings while the inhumanities of segregation and jim crow raged on, sit down with them and ask them what it was like. If you have a video camera or tape recorder, tape their words and treasure them for your family's history...dare to share them on YouTube so that others may learn.
I'm very troubled by the blissful ignorance of the young people I keep bumping into. Some are just tweens and young teens...but others are young adults in their 20's and they don't mince words about having not a flicker of desire whatsoever to hear about the "old days" or put down their twittering smartphones enough to listen to stories, like when my parents had a knife and gun held on them in the dark by two white cowards when they dared to be the first family of color in a neighborhood of bitter, angry whites in the late 50's/early 60's on the south side of Chicago. And what's especially troubling is when these unconcerned young ones are black, American Indian or Latino, poor and "at-risk". They have no perspective on how closely tied their present is to the struggles of the past, and how much hard work still needs to be done on the road we're on right now.
I know I'm repeating myself here, but have you heard of the growing movement of people who actually believe that segregated schools should become a reality once again in this day and age?? Have you heard of the revisionist history-filled textbooks that severely blunt the reality of what American Indians, African slaves and even Chinese railroad workers faced in the early conquest and "settlement" of this country?? When you look at the images in Hollywood and the media do you see a range of diverse colors, ethnicities and socio-economic levels represented?? Do you see films with actors of color (female and male) in romantic or heroic leads?? Can you understand the anger I feel when people assume that Everybody Hates Chris, The Cleveland Show or Tyler Perry's style of filmmaking represents how all African-American people think and behave?? Can you understand the anger I feel when people think all American Indians speak one language, look the same or are all alcoholics?? Can you understand the anger I feel that women of color still feel the pressure to pursue an anglo/white standard of beauty rather than embracing their darker skintones, thicker, curlier/tightly-coiled hair and natural facial features?? Can you relate to how it feels to be around white people who think all black people speak the same style of broken English and poor grammar?? Or don't care to understand the rich differences between the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, and so many other Asian cultures?? Or the rich diversity among Central and South American cultures?? Do you realize that there are young people as well older folks my age and over 45 who think Africa is one solitary country??? Or have no clue that Egypt is an African country?? Can you relate to what it's like to be around white people who have no clue or refuse to believe that there is a range of socio-economic levels amongst blacks, Latinos, and American Indians including (*gasp*)...a middle class???
If you're not a person of color and have a little trouble relating...just ponder this. How would you feel if the predominant images and stereotypes of your race/culture in the media and floating around people's myopic minds were that all anglo/white Europeans are poor, speak in broken English and poor grammar, live in trailer parks, are addicted to Nascar, tell racist jokes, beat their wives, do meth, do crimes, have litters of barefoot kids, etc. etc. etc. There is so much prejudice and bigotry, across the board, in every culture and race. There is so much work that still needs to be done...and each and every one of us, however young or old, has a part to play. This documentary is definitely an inspiring reality check.
Click for great article spotlighting the new documentary celebrating the riders who dared to take a stand against segregation and the inferno of racism:
And thanks to my dear friend Duke, who reminded me of what it was like to grow up in London during the Notting Hill race riots in the late 50's. Definitely an often forgotten, brutal perspective of civil rights struggles on the other side of the pond. I know plenty of American whites, young and old, who proudly express their anglophile love for British Mods, skinheads and cool Vespa scooters with tons of mirrors and union jack stickers...but none of them ever goes near this slice of British history:
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