As a black man living in America (A nice, long essay)...

[Dem2theMax]

34. This brought tears to my eyes.

I am a white female, who was luckily raised by two parents who taught us that we are all equal. No exceptions.

I can remember the first time I saw a photo of 'whites only, and blacks only' water fountains. I couldn't understand how people could do that to one another. And that was just the water fountain. I was a child, but I knew what I was seeing was wrong.

I don't have the power of words that MrScorpio has.
I don't just have tears in my eyes. I am sitting here weeping. I can't understand how human beings can treat each other in such horrible ways, and with such hatred in their hearts and souls.

I don't understand how someone can see a photo from 35 years ago, and make excuses for it, because it was 35 YEARS AGO. 35 years ago, I was 27. And at 27 I knew that behavior was wrong. I also knew that when I was five years old.

After reading all of the posts on DU yesterday, mostly regarding Governor Northam, I sat and thought a lot about it last night. I thought about how hard EffieBlack was trying to get posters to understand where she was coming from. And here MrScorpio is doing the same thing. Trying to get white people to understand how hard it is to live in a country where you are not accepted, where are you are constantly discriminated against, if you are not white.

Being white, I will never be able to understand what you have had to go through. I can read your words, and try with all my might to gain some understanding of what your lives are like. And I am so grateful that you are taking the time to share with us so that we can gain more understanding of what it is like to be black in America.

Last night, after seeing so many people rushing to the defense of Governor Northam, I wondered if there is some moral code within us, something born into our natures, that helps some of us see what is truly right, and blinds others to the truth. Because I truly cannot understand how people can look at what is sitting right in front of them, and deny it is there.

Thank you MrScorpio, thank you EffieBlack, thank you to all of the DU'ers who keep educating us.

I keep hoping that humanity, the humanity of kindness and compassion will win out. That respect for one another will become the norm, rather than a moment here and there.