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.
Mr. Face,
John,
A great example of all folks working together towards a common goal is the Military, race, sex, color, creed or nation of origin do not matter, everyone pulls together to accomplish the common mission.
On July 26, 1948 even before this old white guy was born the DOD was integrated. I worked twice for a Colonel then Major General Eugene R. Cromartie, an African American office, a superb leader and great guy among thousands of other minority people I served with.
My test of “acceptance” is how many minority’s have set at your dinner table or you theirs?
Hi John, How about “Let’s Face Our Problems” for your title. As to a sign off, I’m not good at that. You might ask Dave if you can use his “Be well and behave”. I don’t think he has copyrighted it yet.
I enjoyed your article. As to your encounter with the four African American 14 year old males, I’m surprised you mentioned they were males. A lot of people would have been leery even if they were females.
I was in a store last week and you could hear a group of kids in the aisle one row over. They were pretty loud. Oh, did I mention they were Caucasian? When they came around to my side, they broke up into single file so I had room to get by. Like you said, just a group of kids so wrapped up in their conversations that they didn’t realize how loud they were.
Another time I was walking out of a store and an African American woman was coming in. I said hello and her face lit up. We had a quick little conversation about the lousy weather and went our ways. I was feeling like I mattered somewhat and hope she felt the same.
I wish we could do away with the additional heritage tags. Not all Negros come from Africa. In my case, I have never heard of a country called “Heinz 57 different varieties” which would apply to me. Would it make any sense at all to call Native Americans “Native American-American”? If we are citizens of the USA, we are Americans – no matter the color.
I look forward to reading your next article.
Pat
I found Bob’s comments to reflect my own experience in the military. I found men of all colors wearing the uniform and serving together, eating together, and living together. There were men I like and respected, and those I did not. I don’t remember race being at issue.
How about Face the Music?
Being nice or kind is not hard. Do it once and find out it can be rewarding. Making someone smile puts a smile on your own face. Holding a door only takes one second. The more you smile the more the rest of the world smiles.We can make this a better world with a little effort.
I’ve read this thing five times and the underlying theme is you are better than us cretins because you think we are all (or at least the vast majority) are racists.
I’m a veteran and have served with all races as I did in my professional career and found if you treat others with honesty and respect it is returned in kind.
You forgot to mention the complete scenario with the young African American kids – was this during daylight hours or at night? Daylight hours, no problem. But if I was walking at night, I’m armed. Where I walk, there isn’t anybody around on country roads but passing vehicles going from point A to point B, but since I’m alone walking the dog, I’m always armed to protect us in case some idiot thinks I’m an easy mark out in the middle of nowhere.
After all these years I understand one thing – humans of all colors can be a pain in the ass and always present problems or challenges. Animals not so much. Call me angry, call me a curmudgeon, call me anything you wish, but leave racist in your brain and not your speech.