I admire people who ask, why? I admire people who look ahead, who plan ahead. I guess I admire them because I never was one, I just accepted things as they were and was content with that. I never asked why some people had to ride in the back of the bus. I never questioned why a certain race of people were not allowed in the casinos to lose their money.
I should have asked, "What is wrong with their money?" Anyone elses money was fine, but not theirs. It never occurred to me to ask that question, it is just the way it was. Why could ANY other race of people, from any other country, gamble in our casinos. OH, they had their own place, the New China Club in Reno. They could gamble there, that was "their" club. they could lose their money their, why was that? They used the same money that we did.
They could entertain us in the lounges and main rooms, but they were not allowed to mingle with the customers, or even enter onto the floor.
Sammy Davis appeared at the Mapes in Reno. He stayed in a motel, for them, way out on South Virginia Street. A limo brought them to the "back door" of the Mapes, they would enter, go on stage, do their act, leave by the same back door, and return to their motel. This was in the mid 50's. Some nights, Charlie Mapes would arrange for a motorcycled Police escort, sirens and all, to parade them to the Mapes, his Star, his Headliner, he wanted everyone to know and see, but they could not talk or mingle with any of the white customers. I never asked why, it is just the way it was.
I remember being in Mexico for the first time. I was surrounded by "foreigners." My first trip to Japan, more foreigners. I remember one of my teachers at Oakwood High School in Dayton, Ohio once made the statement, "An American never goes to a foreign country."
I wonder, "why."
