When We Look Beyond Color
I think that one of the great things about integration is that it helped us (at least at that younger age when one’s moral, cultural, societal lessons might be grasped more easily) to get to know one another without seeing the color of the other person’s skin as a barrier. Suddenly, there we were, seeing, sitting next to, listening to, even touching people of another race, and on a daily basis. We began to get used to the small truth that we were really and truly no different from each other: we were all the human beings that God created and loved equally. I truly believe this helped us see that.
I think this helped us judge people less, particularly on a sight basis alone. In my life, for example, I have often been judged by the color of my skin, by people who see my blackness as a color and then assume any number of things about me that simply may not be true. My skin color does not say that a chunk of my family came from Florida’s native population. It does not say that I was actually born in Mississippi. It does not say that I love country music, or that I eat too much yogurt. My skin color does not say that I spent a summer in Italy and that experience changed my life. It does not say that I cry when I think of injustice or that I am always afraid now.
In those early days when we were forced to integrate, we struggled. I believe progress demands (or at least puts up with) struggle. Nothing is easy if it’s worthwhile, if it’s worth fighting for. I didn’t find lifelong friends at that white school where we were sent—although I do still think of them fondly and am excited when I hear about what is going on in their lives. I still love everyone—of every color—on that basketball team, for we shared so much. Later, in the military and in my other jobs and travels, I did go on to make friends with people who are not of my race. I still have friends whom I adore, who do not share my color. I have a younger sister who did have white friends throughout her school years and holds those friends close. They are like family to her.
I ask myself now, had we, as society, learned by then that integrating was not bad and that we might actually enjoy and benefit from it? She started her studies in this integrated school, never knew or cared that there had prior been a different possibility. She and those friends are some of the most well-adjusted individuals that I know. I see people, on the other hand, who did not attend school with people of different races, and rarely do they have those types of close relationships with people of another race. Yes, that is an over-simplification of race relations, as well as an over-statement about friendship and how we make them, but perhaps you will agree with me that it is something to think about. This is what we hope to do here with this project. Let’s think about integration and what it may or may not have done for us.