I went to college in Alabama in the early seventies. When I wasn't in class, I was always in the woods or on a lake. On a hunting trip, I ran out of gas on the way home (about ten miles from home). Several people passed me by, but two black men in a beat up pickup stopped to help me. I have to tell you. I was terrified when they stopped. They drove me to my house to get my gas can, to the service station to fill up my gas can, and back to my truck. They wouldn't accept anything for helping me. I thanked them, and they were on their way. On my way home, all I could think about was would I have done the same if the situation was reversed? An honest answer, no. God taught me a lesson that day.
A few years later a young black Navy officer and I were attending a course in Norfolk, Va. His sister was attending a local college, and he asked me to drive him to visit her. I took him to visit her dorm. Little did I know that I was entering the freshman women dorm of the college, an all black college at that. They had a good laugh, and we all had a great evening. When we got back to the base, and I settled back, again I wondered would I taken him to my freshman sister's dorm. Honest answer, no. Not only that, I probably would not have taken him to visit his sister if I had known we were going to an all black college. God taught me another lesson that day.
It took many more lessons for God to get me where I am today, and I still have a long way to go. Someday, I will be able to walk down a dark street and not quicken my pace when I see a black man following me. I'll be honest. The activities that I have witnessed during the past few days hasn't helped me overcome my fears.
@HoneyDew, I am sorry for any disrespect that you or your family have experienced. There are many of us who are still learning. I pray that the last few weeks doesn't end with more fear on both sides.
A few years later a young black Navy officer and I were attending a course in Norfolk, Va. His sister was attending a local college, and he asked me to drive him to visit her. I took him to visit her dorm. Little did I know that I was entering the freshman women dorm of the college, an all black college at that. They had a good laugh, and we all had a great evening. When we got back to the base, and I settled back, again I wondered would I taken him to my freshman sister's dorm. Honest answer, no. Not only that, I probably would not have taken him to visit his sister if I had known we were going to an all black college. God taught me another lesson that day.
It took many more lessons for God to get me where I am today, and I still have a long way to go. Someday, I will be able to walk down a dark street and not quicken my pace when I see a black man following me. I'll be honest. The activities that I have witnessed during the past few days hasn't helped me overcome my fears.
@HoneyDew, I am sorry for any disrespect that you or your family have experienced. There are many of us who are still learning. I pray that the last few weeks doesn't end with more fear on both sides.
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