I just returned from visiting family and friends in Detroit over the July Fourth weekend. While there as I often do when I visit a city or town, I like to read the local paper. I picked up the July Fourth edition of the Detroit paper and there I came across a story, A story about an interracial couple’s harassment complaint which was filed with their local police department.
The couple stated that their home was “Egged”, and the criminals also scribbled the “N” word on their vehicles.
The couple stated that they decided to file a complaint because the egging has crossed the line into using hate language by writing the “N” word on their vehicles. Prior to this latest incident which resulted in this complaint the couple stated that they have been the victims of having their home egged in the past but did not file a complaint with the Gross Pointe Police Department.
I am prompted to write this article today because of a story I saw reported on CNN this morning. The story was about black and Latino children who were told they were no longer welcome to swim at the local swimming club.
Initially, the swimming club accepted money from a contract the club allegedly signed to share their Swimming Club with these children. CNN interviewed the little boy who said he personally heard racial statements being said about the blacks and minorities in his presence. Then the little boy broke down and began crying because he simply had not experienced racism before. Yes it hurts like hell, at his age, and at any age. When will we see the light.
We as Americans only months ago voted for the first Black President of the United States. We no longer are required to sit in the back of buses or eat at separate lunch counters and the like. But we most continue to teach are young that although we have “Equal Rights”, racism, hate and intolerance are still alive and well. This is despite the fact that we as a Nation, just elected an African American President. We must continue to educate our youth to the reality of today despite what is on the surface called progress.
Why does an interracial couple, consisting of a black man and a white woman living in Gross Pointe Michigan still have to suffer at the hands of vicious racist in their communities?
Why must little black boys and girls and Latino children still feel the pain and sting of hearing that they are somehow inferior or inhuman because of the color of their skin and are not welcome!, in 2009. Why!!!
