EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of columns by John Face of Albion, who has spent a lifetime of living and going to work and school with people of color.

by John Face

So let’s just pretend that you never ever in your life interacted with an African American any more than seeing them in a grocery store, etc. Now let’s imagine you are walking down the street by yourself and you see a group of four young African American males walking toward you being loud and shoving each other.

How do you feel? Let’s be honest here, how would you really feel?

Would you be a little fearful? My guess is if your interactions with African Americans are limited, you at the minimum are nervous and quite possibly do something to make the situation easier for you, like crossing the street.

Now ask yourself honestly would you have a different reaction if they were white kids?

I can hear you all the way down here in Albion, “I wouldn’t be afraid; I would walk right by them like there is no problem. I would act normal.” I seriously doubt that.

Those four kids were just being smart ass 14-year-olds messing with each other and didn’t even pay any attention… to me. Yep, this really happened to me. In fact as they walked by and seeing the old white guy, all I heard was “hello sir.”

The sad thing is because so many are conditioned to think that young African American males are trouble we all get nervous.

Conditioned, really John?

Yep. You see and hear so much crap about young African American males that we automatically assume all of them are troublemakers.

Bull, you say.

Easy there, dear reader, but you are what you are. African American males have been subjected to stereotypes like this forever. Don’t blame yourself, too much; you were raised to think that white people are better. We saw it in our television, school books, sometimes by the very people dedicated to educating us and our families as well.

Don’t get mad. I am not trying to start a fight. Even this old guy had to deal with false fears of that small group of African American kids. I am lucky because I do have a lifetime of experience that shows that all people of all colors have good and bad.

Did you understand what I said there? That last sentence is the biggest cop out white people use. We never use it when talking about white people. The problem is we look at African Americans differently all the time and don’t realize it.

I am not trying to start an argument. I just want us to think about this. Those African American kids are not gang bangers, and I seriously doubt you would know one if he walked up to you. Those African American kids were just being kids. They were raised differently than you and me, Mr. and Mrs. White Person. We will talk about that some other time.

OK, now for some serious stuff — I need a catch phrase to sign off with each week and a title for my weekly articles. Share your ideas in the comments.

“I want a catch phrase. I want to start a craze. I want a gimmick. I want a hit.” — Neil Innes, 1976

COVER PHOTO: Artist Maggie LaNoue, a graduate of Albion College and longtime resident of the community, drew this artwork of the downtown.