There are still ignorant bigots out there
A retired grocer from Swanville, MN puts out a four-page newsletter weekly. Half contain bits about his small community, the other half is ads for the two grocery stores his children own.
Last week, though, he added a small paragraph on the front page that read:
Attention! All white people are requested to meet at the south end of the cotton field for orientation and instructions on the 2nd Tuesday of next week.
At first, I thought it strange, but didn’t equate it to the national elections. When I made the connection, to say the least, I was appalled!
I had been so happy to think that most of the people in this country weren’t the ignorant bigots I thought they were. We have elected an articulate, savvy African American. The American people should be proud of the leaps we have made during this historic election.
But no, right here in my community, there are factions who just cannot accept the fact that Barack Obama is as qualified, or more, as anyone else to lead the United States of America. And, he was the people’s choice. And it’s just because he is black.
That brings to mind that there are probably other people/ communities, in even my neck of the woods, that also feel the same way.
It makes me ill.
I have been fortunate enough to have lived in other states. It helps to have a better understanding of others when you live and work with them. I was on an urban renewal committee when I lived in a very diverse neighborhood. One gentleman asked me what could be done to keep the white women away from their black sons because the white women come into the bars chasing after them? Why did the men find them more attractive than the nice black women? It was interesting to hear his perspective. Many people here have never had that opportunity.