Tuesday
Feb102004
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 5:10AM Life Is More Than A Moment
On Labor Day 1957 Elizabeth Eckford, 15 was one of nine students who attempted to enroll at all white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was turned away by Arkansas National Guardsmen. As she walked away she was tormented by another teenager named Hazel Bryan. This photo taken by William Counts has been called one of the top 100 photographs of the century by the Associated Press. Full Story here.
Forty years later, the photographer who took the photo, William Counts, arranged a meeting between the two women. Although Hazel had phoned Elizabeth to apologize years later, the two never met until 1997. Hazel Massery had been the poster child for hate. She once said, "Life is more than a moment." One moment in time had defined her life for a generation. People change.
Here are a few more photos from the Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's. I used these in a four minute movie I made last year about the Civil Rights Movement. You can watch it here. This is an mp4 about 9mb. When you go to the page, the movie will download automatically. If you have broadband, the download will take one and a half to two minutes.
On April 4, 1968 I was 11 years old. I was watching television with my brother when the news flash came on that Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot and killed. My brother said, "good, that will teach that nigger." I did not know who Martin Luther King was, but my mother walked into the room and asked what the news flash was about. I told her Martin Luther King had been killed, then I repeated what my brother had said only moments earlier, "that will show that nigger." My mother slapped my mouth and said in a very stern voice, "you never use that kind of language or take joy in someone's death again." I was shocked and confused, but it is a memory vivid to this day. For one reason, it is about the only time I can remember my mother laying a hand on me except for the time I was caught teaching the neighbor boy how to curse. What would follow in the coming days would be a turmoil our country had not known.
At the time, I was attending the Kansas School for the Blind. I missed a couple of days, because there were riots near the school. There were riots all over the country. Looking back it seems so strange, but our country was at a boiling point.
The movie I made contains vintage photos and video of the Civil Rights Movement. Voices of Civil Rights Leaders are included. Making the movie, I gained more respect for the people who demonstrated for their rights and to seek the freedoms guaranteed by our constitution. Those people demonstrated "civil disobedience." In return they were beaten, attacked by dogs, unfairly harassed, ridiculed, and some were killed. Why? Because they were black - because they were different - because of fear - because of ignorance. They shed blood for their cause and in the end, they overcame.
I am not saying racism is conquered, but the Civil Rights Movement resulted in legislative change. What a contrast to today. Individuals often see racism behind every bush. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton run their self-serving campaigns under the guise of eliminating some form of racism. These and others like them are not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as some of these nameless people who suffered physical harm for their cause.
People are not equal. Some are smarter, prettier, richer, funnier, faster, stronger, and so on. We are born to a class, a race, a country, and parents not of our choosing. Life does not care which set of variables you were given. Most people do not either. Success is up to the individual or a long wait will ensue. My life has not been a greased path to success. Maybe I enjoyed "white privilege," if so I was not aware of it. I know some have it better than me and some have it worse. Either way, it matters little, because, I have to make it myself. I had to go to school every day. I have to go to work every day. For these opportunities I am grateful, but I had to add a heaping portion of elbow grease.
As a white male, I am often told I cannot even have an opinion. I am not a woman so I cannot talk about abortion. I am not black so how can I understand racism? I am not gay so how can I be expected to have the right opinion about hate crimes? I am not a lot of things. I am trying to understand and I remain open, but I refuse to accept responsibility for someone else's happiness and success.
Today, Warren Sapp the football player makes millions of dollars but compares his situation to that of slaves. Jesse Jackson shakes down companies in the name of correcting racial injustice. Al Sharpton tells a girl to lie about an attack to stir things up. These people are not defenders of their race. They are self serving individuals who are abusing their opportunity. They dishonor Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, and others who suffered, but blazed the trail for those who would follow.
I am responsible "for" myself and my family. I am responsible "to" my community. What I have said about being responsible is not a white thing, it is a success thing. Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, and every other race under the sun are more limited by their own beliefs than they are oppressed.
Injustice will be around as long as people live. We must all do our part to make our little part of the earth just and fair. We are powerful if we work together. As Cheekysquirrel pointed out yesterday in the comments, diversity is what makes life interesting. Instead of fearing what is different we should explore it and appreciate it for what it is - just something different.
Until the next time
John Strain
