The more things change the more they stay the same. An old saying, and one that seems shaky given the apparent pace of technological and social evolution, but nonetheless feels true in some fundamental aspects of our human civilization.
And this can surprise you.
The degree to which this country is still plagued by bigoted, even full-on racist, attitudes has certainly surprised and shocked me.
Having spent my childhood years in the South, I was exposed to the 'separate but unequal' status quo of the fifties and early sixties, and that was indeed ugly and hateful, but I've seen so many positive changes over the intervening years I thought that old attitude was gone, an historical anachromism tied to our less educated, less aware days. Living most of my adult life in larger cities among intelligent and progressive people, and not being a man of color, I guess I've been insulated against reality.
But the events of 2014-2015 have shown us all in ways we can't ignore that prejudice is alive in this land; weakened from its former self maybe, but like a half-dead rattler in the grass still capable of delivering a deadly strike.
From the string of fatal inflictions of police prejudice that began in Ferguson, to the lack of respect shown for our President that exceeds anything thrown at a sitting chief executive in living memory, we are awash in evidence.
If I am very lucky, I may have a little more than two decades left on this planet. I am hoping that what I thought had happened but hasn't yet, finally does, and that before those twenty-odd years are done there will no longer be reason for this lament.
And this can surprise you.
The degree to which this country is still plagued by bigoted, even full-on racist, attitudes has certainly surprised and shocked me.
Having spent my childhood years in the South, I was exposed to the 'separate but unequal' status quo of the fifties and early sixties, and that was indeed ugly and hateful, but I've seen so many positive changes over the intervening years I thought that old attitude was gone, an historical anachromism tied to our less educated, less aware days. Living most of my adult life in larger cities among intelligent and progressive people, and not being a man of color, I guess I've been insulated against reality.
But the events of 2014-2015 have shown us all in ways we can't ignore that prejudice is alive in this land; weakened from its former self maybe, but like a half-dead rattler in the grass still capable of delivering a deadly strike.
From the string of fatal inflictions of police prejudice that began in Ferguson, to the lack of respect shown for our President that exceeds anything thrown at a sitting chief executive in living memory, we are awash in evidence.
If I am very lucky, I may have a little more than two decades left on this planet. I am hoping that what I thought had happened but hasn't yet, finally does, and that before those twenty-odd years are done there will no longer be reason for this lament.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment