I am not what you see
James Moore,
Sterling, VA.
No one told me when I adopted my baby girl that I was no longer white. I had to find out the hard way. One friend at a time. Sadly.
Political climate gave HATE safe space
Kelly Ferrell,
Sterling, VA.
I am disappointed but not surprised that charismatic politicians have taken the easy route and invested in hate rather than commit to making our country and our world more inclusive. Home-grown extremist groups that terrorized communities of color had been marginalized for some time. Now they feel that they have an advocate in the businessman and a say in this election.
I’ve been the ONLY Black kid..
Kelly B. Ferrell
Sterling, VA
As the child of nomadic parents, we lived where we could and/or where my parents found work. At one point in the mid “70s, we lived in up-state NY, outside of Ithaca. We were the only black family in the area (in the county the way I remember it) and I was the only Black child that many of my classmates had ever seen. I went to Freeville Elementary and to Dryden Elementary and I remember being IT. The only time I ever saw Black people were at home. Mrs. Shapiro was my 3rd grade teacher and was the kind that makes such an impression on you that you never forget their name. When tryouts for the Christmas play were over and I was awarded the part of Mrs. Santa, PARENTS complained that I couldn’t possibly play that role as Mrs. Santa was WHITE. Mrs. Shapiro gave me the role in spite of them and I have that photo to this day. That experience shaped the way that I learned to think, speak and even how I learned. We moved after I finished the 3rd grade and ended up in Gary, Indiana. Both the Jacksons and the steel mills were gone and pretty much the entire city was out of work. It was there that I was introduced to all Black schools and neighborhoods. Because I “talked White” I got my behind kicked every day on the way too and from school until I finally learned to stand up for myself. All that being said, I am against segregation in any form. Segregation causes the mind to atrophy. It leads people into thinking that there is only one right way…or only one wrong way. Those who believe themselves superior are acting on an insecurity and a cultivated fear of the unknown and those made to feel inferior have to overcome a toxic self-hatred and crippling self doubt that tends toward negative self-fulfilling prophesies. I personally have found myself most comfortable in environments in the US where no one is in the majority.
Couldn’t convince grandmother slavery was immoral
Denise Pierce,
Sterling, VA.
My grandmother who was born in NC in 1901 and lived to be 105 tried to instill in me a love for my land-owning ancestors who also owned slaves. At 99 she was still quoting from the KKK playbook that taught slaves were lucky to have been brought to America and were well taken care of by people like my ancestors. I rarely argued with her but had to challenge this line of thinking. Since she was a devout Christian I worried about whether those views would prevent her from going to heaven which I knew was not far off. Since her views never changed, I still worry.
Secret shame: Still surprised by similarities.
Debbie Staton
Sterling, KS
I was taught from a very young age that God created and loves everyone, regardless of race or nationality and not to judge others by their skin color. But, at 53 years old, I still catch myself feeling surprised at times when the realization hits me that people who look different than me are really not all that different.
