I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  During those times I can remember two topics that filled the air waves. Those topics were the cold war and the civil rights movement.

The cold war, for those who are too young to know, was a confrontation that existed between the United States and Russia.  It wasn’t a traditional war where troops fought each other on a battle field. It was a war of ideologies. Each country felt that their way of life was the best and each used various things to under mind the other in an attempt to show who was superior.  Some of those things included the space race and spying (this is real James Bond stuff). The closest we came to a physical confrontation was during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

Growing up as a Black American, the civil rights movement was something that seemed to overwhelm the whole community.  Our main concern was to achieve equal rights.  I can remember seeing those horrific pictures of hangings, people being sprayed with fire hoses and seeing people, who didn’t want equal rights, carrying signs calling us the “N” word.

I can also remember my dad, who grew up in the south during the 1920’s and 1930’s, telling us stories that would make your hair stand on edge.  Those stories included all the things that Black America experienced during those times. The voting rights act of 1965 eased a little of the injustice, but it would be after many years and after many pieces of legislation before some sort of equality could exist.

As a positive parent my dad never played the race card with us.  Although he had some horrible experiences as young man growing up in the south, he never seemed to carry any hate toward those who were against him.  He always taught us that there were balances in life. He taught us that although there were those who were very cruel, there were also those who were very kind. These human traits exist beyond the color of our skins and we should not waist our time placing blame on people for things that went on 50 or 60 years ago. This is not to say that things like racism don’t exist. In some parts of this country and in some parts of the world, people are struggling to achieve basic human rights.

In his role as a positive parent, my dad feels that hate is a disease that cannot be turned on or off. He feels that despite whatever negative experiences we may have had with others (real or imagined); our main concern should be to become the best person that we could become. 

I’d love to read what you think.

I LOVE BEING A DAD!