I didn’t know until I was eight years old that the proper name for a “n…” shooter was slingshot.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was nine years old that the appropriate phrase for “n…” rigged was to fix something.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was twelve years old that my great grandfather was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. He had the white robe, hood, and a ring with KKK on it.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was thirteen years old that I was not allowed to date any of my peers that were not of my race.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was seventeen years old that an ancestor of mine was one of the first African American slaves brought to America.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was eighteen years old that so many of my relatives and friends were for segregation.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was grown how subtle racism could be. I didn’t know until I was grown how bigotry comes in all walks of life and in all types of people: the religious, the uneducated, the educated, the farmers, the lawyers, the rich, the poor, the non-religious, the middle-class, and the politicians.
I didn’t know.
I did know I could read and learn. I chose to do so. I did learn about slavery, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Act, and every man and woman who fought for equal rights.
I do know now.
I didn’t know until 2008 that an African American would run for president and win. I didn’t know how proud I would feel when the first black man was sworn in as President. I didn’t know I would weep with joy.
I do know now.
I did know I could break the cycle of racism by raising my children to know all these things long before I did I didn’t know that my parents would vote for the first African American President, but they did. I didn’t know how wonderful I would feel to witness such a transformation in my family.
I do know now.
I do know change is possible with all people. I do know racism still exists, but doesn’t have to. I do know my hope for our world is love among all people, no matter the race, the religion, the gender.
I do know this could be so.
Author Bio:
I am a freelance writer living in Santa Fe, NM. I have sold fiction, nonfiction, and poetry over the past 20 years to various magazines and newspapers. My most recent sales include: Rise Early Old Woman to Ginosko Literary Journal; Sewn to Life to Dialogue Magazine; Mysteries of the Arroyo, Let Her Sleep, and I Float to The Write Time and The Write Place; I Dream to Westward Quarterly; and Alive Now to the Poet's Pen. I love writing. Poetry is my passion. The reward of writing something that someone else might like to read or feel an emotion or be inspired by, is worth the lack of great riches.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was nine years old that the appropriate phrase for “n…” rigged was to fix something.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was twelve years old that my great grandfather was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. He had the white robe, hood, and a ring with KKK on it.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was thirteen years old that I was not allowed to date any of my peers that were not of my race.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was seventeen years old that an ancestor of mine was one of the first African American slaves brought to America.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was eighteen years old that so many of my relatives and friends were for segregation.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know until I was grown how subtle racism could be. I didn’t know until I was grown how bigotry comes in all walks of life and in all types of people: the religious, the uneducated, the educated, the farmers, the lawyers, the rich, the poor, the non-religious, the middle-class, and the politicians.
I didn’t know.
I did know I could read and learn. I chose to do so. I did learn about slavery, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Act, and every man and woman who fought for equal rights.
I do know now.
I didn’t know until 2008 that an African American would run for president and win. I didn’t know how proud I would feel when the first black man was sworn in as President. I didn’t know I would weep with joy.
I do know now.
I did know I could break the cycle of racism by raising my children to know all these things long before I did I didn’t know that my parents would vote for the first African American President, but they did. I didn’t know how wonderful I would feel to witness such a transformation in my family.
I do know now.
I do know change is possible with all people. I do know racism still exists, but doesn’t have to. I do know my hope for our world is love among all people, no matter the race, the religion, the gender.
I do know this could be so.
Author Bio:
I am a freelance writer living in Santa Fe, NM. I have sold fiction, nonfiction, and poetry over the past 20 years to various magazines and newspapers. My most recent sales include: Rise Early Old Woman to Ginosko Literary Journal; Sewn to Life to Dialogue Magazine; Mysteries of the Arroyo, Let Her Sleep, and I Float to The Write Time and The Write Place; I Dream to Westward Quarterly; and Alive Now to the Poet's Pen. I love writing. Poetry is my passion. The reward of writing something that someone else might like to read or feel an emotion or be inspired by, is worth the lack of great riches.
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