Man times have changed and my Very conservative nephews and nieces all have black friends that they made in high school or college or work.
It just didn’t happen when I was a teen in the 80s.
It couldn’t. There was the Italians (and any other white ethnics), the blacks and the Puerto Ricans and and God forbid you mix. Race fights all the time.
I would be lying if I said there wasn’t some racism in me. I wish there wasn’t but there is.
I don’t see it at all in my nephews and nieces. That’s nice.
Nice that you have very conservative nieces and nephews. My nieces are both very liberal....not nice.
And, yes, nice that they don’t see race as an issue. In NC politics, this is a totally new phenomenon too - a black Republican WINNING an election. (even though it’s just a primary election).
It proves that ISSUES not RACE are the primary things to Republicans in NC at this time.
Where did you grow up??
I was born and raised in Colorado. I had friends from the entire spectrum....still do. All that mattered was what you stood for
I wouldn’t call it racism. I’d call it survival
When I worked in Manhattan circa 1999, Danny Glover made a public statement that cabbies discriminated against blacks, saying he couldn't get a cab. I remember thinking that it was a publicity stunt...cmon...really?
I was walking near MSG with a black friend after work...it was in the evening, and my friend was dress WAAAY better than me (I looked like Kurt Cobain and he looked like Nat King Cole). He walked to the curb and tried to hail a cab...the cabbie blew right past him...and stopped for a white guy 200 ft down 30th st.
Yea, yea...I know...maybe the cabbie didn't see my friend, maybe this or that.,.but we were in a well-lit area and the white guy wasnt. It was pretty clear what had just happened.
I got colossally peeved...and my friend shrugged it off and kept walking. He was a better man than I was that night.
It happens to everyone...you're either too black, white, tall, short, fat, thin, a Republican, a liberal, straight, gay, Italian, Irish, whatever. In general, though, we don't talk about it. My friend and I never had a race discussion, because our friendship wasn't based on race. I sure didn't mention race after I calmed down after the cabbie incident - but neither did my friend. But I *did* have a better appreciation for what his life must have been like, an appreciation that carries through to today.
The Lord gives us all a life we deserve. There is a reason I had that experience, just like you had your segregated experience. Perhaps if you had an experience like mine in 1984, it wouldn't have resonated. But perhaps, as you see and hear of all sorts of race-driven talk and discussions nowadays, they may trigger a memory of where YOU were discriminated against and maybe, just maybe, the Holy Spirit will whisper in your ear.
There are good blacks and bad whites, there are good whites and bad blacks. Nobody's got a monopoly on ethics or stupidity. I'm not saying you'll become colorblind (most of those types are fake non-racists anyway), but if your heart moves in that direction, that's all that it takes. Remember what Yogi said...it ain't over till it's over.