"Neighborhood of humanity" by Wanderings and Musings of a Stubborn Woman

I listened to Johnathan Kozol on NPR today, (if you care at all about children and don't know who he is, you'd best make a real effort to find and read his books) speaking about bigotry (there's a word we hear rarely), children, and Martin Luther King, of whom he was a great admirer and personal friend.

He quoted from the "I Have a Dream" speech: "'I have a dream that someday black children and white children will sit down together at the same table,'" Kozol quoted, then added, "He (King) probably would have added brown children if he were still alive today."

I almost drove off the road, because nowadays we hear so much about like to like, color speaking to color, instead of all colors, shapes and sizes working and eating and being together.

We used to talk about and work for integration. Racially mixed schools and racially mixed neighborhoods. Do you all remember the song "Ebony and Ivory"? Where did that dream go? My long standing belief has always been all white schools need all teachers to be people of color and all black schools should have all teachers to be of a color other than black. How else can we learn about each others cultures and lifelore?

We all cling to our own best known, most comfortable scenarios. That's why living as a mixed group is so important. Ghettos are not really about economics but instead about race and religion. When did the Jewish ghettos of World War II become synonymous only with poverty? Why do we wish the poor and afflicted (vis a vis Bethesda House) to be banished to the poorest areas of our cities.

It amazes me considerably that we go to worship on Saturday or Sunday, and go about our business on Monday not wishing to be reminded of what we prayed or worshiped or meditated on in the days before.

Remember another oldie but goodie, "You've got to be taught to hate". from South Pacific. I believe? I see a racial divide and anger and prejudice (bigotry, if you will) between so many people these days, starting with children.

I hear a little Puerto Rican child say "Those Guyanese are taking all the jobs". I hear Five Percenters preach against the "blue eyed white devils" - of which I am one.

And, of course, there's the age old white complaints. "All Irish like to do is fight and drink." "Polish people are sooo stupid." Remember those light bulb jokes? And yes, if a black person moves into your neighborhood, you know what happens. "Honestly, I really don't mind them (always the ubiquitous noun), but if that family moves next door, the value of my property will plummet."

I haven't even brought up the homosexual jokes and the good old boys condescending attitude toward women. Actually there are some women who think a woman's place is home ironing her husband's shirts (Remember Hillary's campaign?). Think on Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Hildegarde of Bingham.

Remember that we are all, let me say this again, all of us are descended from a common very, very, small gene pool. And all of our ancestors started in the sub-Sahara region and were people of color. Because of the climate from which they sprang, dark skin was a protection from the sun.

But let those of darker complexion also remember all the benefits that come from other skin colors, like antibiotics and polio vaccines and, of course, high taxes and segregation.

What a mess we have made of our inheritance. When you get particularly jangled and stressed, come on by and visit Quest. Come at supper time and see children of all ages and colors sit down at the table together. Watch the older children serve the younger children. See Creesha run around with a baby tucked under one arm and a pitcher of milk in the opposite hand. Look at the toddler sitting on the table being fed by a 12-year-old boy (Isiah).

Then again, observe Nadia throw her crackers across the table and start a vigorous food fight. However, whatever the mess, everyone helps to clean up, mop up, wipe the babies' faces, change their diapers and dance on the stage, singing lustily as they push the mop. The 6-year-old boys are the best; for some reason they love, love, love to clean.

We are democracy as it is meant to be, all backgrounds, colors and creeds ... and sexual preferences, too, all sitting at that table Dr. King spoke of.

Speaking of tables and convivialities, there is a moving (as in moving locations) open drum workshop which presently meets on Wednesday evenings outside of Center City, again all ages, all colors, various communities (some as far away as Gloversville and Duanesberg) who meet and jam. Some drums are the real deal, some are handmade and some are coffee cans (a la "Stomp").

They may be moving to the Methodist Church across from Veteran's Park as the weather is starting to change and darkness closes in earlier. The idea is a free soup night open to the public - no preaching, no extras, just free soup, free entertainment, (the aforementioned drum group) and free participation in both activities. And this is indeed sitting around that great table of color that Dr. King envisioned.

I'm going to tell you a little story now; actually I'm going to paraphrase Jonathan Kozol's telling of the story. He spoke of a great community event in Boston, and he spoke of 180 (or so) children attending, and he spoke of the fact that 6-year-olds do not disguise their feelings if they hate you - you will not labor under any false pretensions and if they love you ...

Well, Mr. Rogers entered the room, and this plump little boy made a beeline for him - chubby body, arms whizzing (just like a bee in flight) and leapt on Mr. Rogers, probably climbing right up his legs, grabbed his neck in a humongous hug, kissed his forehead and pronounced at the very top of his voice, "Oh, Mr. Rogers, welcome to MY neighborhood."

And if that doesn't make you gasp in wonderment, gentle reader, then I urge you to check your heart. Is it still there? Is it still working?

Welcome to the neighborhood of humanity!

QUEST is a community-based organization that provides a safe environment, free meals, counseling, art and recreation programs that keep Hamilton Hill children in school, out of trouble and on track for better lives. For more information on QUEST, visit www.questkids.net.