Ignorance, Tolerance, Acceptance

On Tuesday, I was invited to attend an intercultural diversity meeting on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. At the forefront of the meeting was the question: how does race play a role in the available resources and upbringing of many present-day African Americans. Several natives of Chestertown expressed their disappointment in their community not progressing much from the Civil Rights Era (http://www.chestertownspy.com/spycam-race-in-chestertown/). Housing developments, occupations, businesses, and social gatherings are as much segregated as they were sixty years ago. These discrepancies are also prevalent in other regions of Maryland, not just in Chesterton nor just on the Eastern Shore.

My grandmother, or “Mom-Mom” as I call her, has shared many stories with me of how things “used to be.” Several months ago, I invited my Mom-Mom to have lunch with me at Washington College, now my alma mater, and I’ll never forget what she told me later that day. She stated, “I never thought I would eat at Washington College.” That simple statement struck a cord within me because I knew exactly what she was alluding to. My Mom-Mom is born and raised in Kent County and has a clear memory of how races did not fraternize with one another in certain establishments. Some doors she was not permitted to pass through because she was of African descent. The mentality of separate-facilities-for-separate-races continued to resonate with her, even though two of her grandchildren had graduated from Washington College.

Although I am of a much younger generation than my Mom-Mom, I still see the lack of integration across the state of Maryland. The way things “used to be” appear to not have changed much, if at all. Instead of confronting the issue of race, the trend has been to detour around the subject and then forget the timeline of events that took place some time ago; before and after “the necessary evil” known as American slavery. What happened cannot be changed, but it can be understood. A clear understanding does not come from denying racial disparities, nor does it come from tolerating those who are of a different color. Understanding comes from acknowledging cultural differences and still being accepting of those difference, despite stereotypes, exaggerations, and lies that have trickled down generations into the twenty-first century.

If an individual knocks over a glass of orange juice, whether intentional or accidental, that individual has to eventually clean up the mess. A spill of racial injustice was made, that America has yet to clean up. The spill has been covered up and left to air dry, but the stain still remains. The spill cannot be cleaned up until citizens, including blacks, are thoroughly educated about African American history (thus eliminating their ignorance), and mature from tolerating African Americans to accepting them and their culture. This is why African American museums (i.e the Banneker-Douglass Museum) and historical sites are so important and need community support to sustain their existence.

The bystander effect has been in affect for too long. It is time for everyone to take initiative in bridging the racial gaps--from education, residential areas, professional careers, and extracurricular activities. We are all running in this race of unity together. Our children and our children’s children are depending on us to be examples for them; to train them, so that when we pass the baton of life onto them, they are adequately prepared to continue on and succeed.

-- Joyell Johnson, BDM Volunteer Maryland Coordinator