Why?

Fifty years ago, Dr. King gave his speech in Washington, 1963. In 1950, I received  demerits at The Citadel, and was reprimanded for referring to a black waitress as, "Mam." Blacks were bit allowed in the casinos in Nevada till the early 60's.

I never questioned why? I don't know why I thought nothing of it. Why, did I never ask, why?

I grew up with Sadie, I was only a year or two old when she came to work for us. I never considered her "black" .... she was Sadie, a member of the family. Mom used to get up early to have the house straightened up when Sadie got there, and she was .... our housekeeper, cook, etc., married and had her own home. One of the darkest memories I have was one day, on Brown Street, I wanted to do something and Sadie said "No!" I  got mad, and called her ..... the "N" word. I was shattered after I said it, still am today.

That I have thought about and I have no answer. I guess it was just something I accepted, that's the way it was, and the older I have gotten, the more I respect those who did question, "Why?"

Many years ago, and I vaguely remember the incident, I forget where it happened, but my Dad had black hair, a black mustache, and was denied access to a hotel because they thought he was Jewish. Dooley  us Irish, he finally convinced them of that, but I remember how I felt over that incident, and it was rather brief.

I do know that I am feeling more like a "minority" all the time, and I think, rightly so, I am, male, white and straight and married, to a woman, for almost 50 years. Just curious, who and where are the people that I should look up to and admire. I'm waiting, any answers, aw, com on, there's gotta be at least one. Let me know when you think who it might be .......................