A Day In My Life: January 2016

Greetings Readers!

I hope this post finds you well. This is the first in-depth entry of 2016 (Hooray)! I thank God for the gift of word (spoken and written) that He has given me. Enjoy

-sj

A Celebration Irony

Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Holiday and I was determined to spend the day in some historical fashion that would pay homage to the late, great civil rights leader. I purposed to not just treat the day as a casual Monday at the end of a 3-day weekend. I wanted to participate in something that mattered and that would provide my children the significance of the occasion. My husband's company also recognized this hard one Federal Observance. It is a shame that some businesses do and some do not, but I will save that commentary for another day.

I started the morning thanking God for another day and took a moment to gaze out of my big picture window that is situated in my bedroom. In my immediate view were the other apartment buildings, parking lot, garages and the mail pavilion we all share. I wondered what the other families were doing that day then my thoughts fell upon the facts of my living situation : 1. I am living in a very nice apartment home community on the 3rd floor surrounded by some of the coolest neighbors. Who happened to be white, creole, black, catholic, no religious affiliation, married, widowed, single or divorced. The only criteria(s) required by the property management company were income & rental history. The color of our skin was a non-factor. Interesting..

Next I made my way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for my boys. As I browsed thru my pantry searching for a painless idea..I couldn't help but reflect on our recent trip to the grocery store. There were no designated entrances specifically for 'coloreds' or for just 'whites'. Matter of fact there was a plethora of nationalities present in one place. Blacks, whites, middle easterners, Indians, Native Americans, a few people from oriental descent, young, old, male and female. No one cared as long as you had the tender to pay for your items.

As I wrapped up the breakfast preparations, the children entered the kitchen. I started listing instructions and administering medication,vitamins and supplements. I happened to glance at the pharmacy labels and thought I can use all of the conveniences of the drugstore including the nifty drive thru...no one said I wasn't allowed because of my copper skin tone or my knotty hair. I proceeded to rush into my gym clothes and quickly commute to the gym because I had a killer 9:30 a.m. zumba class. I tumbled into the gym and the young man, who happened to be black, scanned my member card tag and wished me a great work out. Unfortunately, I was about 10 minutes late and my spot was taken, but there were several spots at the back of the class. I opted for one of those not because the law said I had too but out of common courtesy I choose not to interrupt the flow of the class. I waived to my African-American instructor and jumped into the fray. Many of the regulars were there and I was greeted in between moves by my buddies. Both ladies were my seniors and were Caucasian. We danced to the beat, we laughed. We sweated and complained. We also were just a group of women of different generations, in various stages of our lives..straight hair, curly, permed, dyed, knotty, thin, thick and straight. Hmmm I am starting to see a pattern.

The class ended and a few of us stayed around and chatted for a few minutes before continuing on with our day. I returned home without incident (no threat of lynch mobs, no visual appearances of hate groups, cowards in my opinion, bent on harassment and causing harm). The apartment was as I left it. The kids free to be themselves, growing up with no fear, said hello and asked about lunch. After some negotiating we settled on a light fare and I reminded myself that I have not shared with them the importance of this day. I pulled up some kid-friendly videos on MLK and even some not so friendly clips of the kkk (they will never get a capital acknowledgement from me, they are small in the scheme of things) and explained some of the reasons why black people were treated sub-par. My wording was very simple and I moved from instance to instance covering Rosa Parks, Dr. King, and many others who helped with our struggle for equality in America. After a short discussion the boys opted to retreat to their room and have playtime. I sat on the sofa. I didn't feel the need to have them sit in the living room with me because there was no threats on my family; no reason to suspect a fire bottle or homemade explosive to be thrown into my window; nor a need to prepare for a 'in the event' scenario of clansmen busting in my door dragging my husband out to the nearest tree for a lynching or beating my boys within an inch of their lives. No I didn't have those worries.

"Go charge your Chromebooks, tomorrow is a a school day" I stated with a smile. My children are in a classroom designed to serve autistic students. They have a white bus driver, and a white teacher and a private nurse who is German...they have classmates who are every color of the rainbow. No one will ever tell them that they can't go to school with kids who were not of their race.

I have the privilege of pursuing life as I see fit. I am basking in the after glow of those who came before me. So even though I did not participate in any marches, rallies, or events commemorating the day. I did honor Dr. King and many of the past civil rights activist who sacrificed, fought, dyed and would not be silent until their case was won; by appreciating and using, responsibly, the luxuries afforded to me and educating my children about our history. Our American history.

Thank you seems so small. But I and many generations are so very, very grateful..

Like Moses before him, he may not have seen the promise land but he was assured that his people - blacks, whites, Jews and Gentiles would reach it.

As the boys age I will have more freedom to participate in corporate* events acknowledging, celebrating and honoring such a visionary. A man faithful to his calling..to the end.

Honor his values and principals by aspiring to be the best you can be while bringing others with you, if at all possible.

I shared and taught my kids about the struggle and the accomplishments of many. Turns out my day was very meaningful.

Educate and then consider:
Equal housing Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Discrimination made illegal
Hate Crimes are now a Federal Offense
Segregation has been abolished
Equal wages for Equal pay (Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws)
Abolishment of Jim Crow laws
The Voters Right Act of 1965

* of, relating to, or formed into a unified body of individuals <human law arises by the corporate action of a people — G. H. Sabine) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corporate.

-Sj

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