Daniel Gwynn Blog Update
Date: 8/17/13
Subject: "Racism"

We've finally got to see the movie "42" (Jackie Robinson
Bio-drama). and although it was a very good movie, it was kind
of difficult to watch the hatred and prejudice spewed in it. As
the wile hateful words ripped through my eardrums, I was transported
back to a difficult time in my childhood in the late
70's early 80's. My friends and I were on a tour for the Community
Center's Youth Tennis League playing an away game in an all
white neighborhood (8 blocks from my home). We were a small
group of pre-teens trying ti play some tennis, when we were
assaulted on and off the court by hateful remarks hurled at us,
along with bottles and rocks. These were adults attacking children
for no reason other than the color of our skin. We were unable
to finish our matches, and were out of the neighborhood.
I think that once slavery was abolished, prejudices became
more prevalent. Times were hard and society need someone to
blame-- hard working blacks were a slap in the face to out of
work whites. when people get and scared they become desperate,
which leads to unruly behavior.
I'm trying to understand racism and prejudice, as we continue
to struggle under its dark cloud. It doesn't make sense to me.
I've tried to hate white people for the injustices that continue
to befall people of color, especially my ancestors, but I'm
just not feeling it. How can I blame someone for something that
someone else did?!! If i don't like someone, it's going to be
for what they did and not their ancestors. Sire, I'm still surviving
under the dark clouds of racism and prejudices instigated
by a people long gone, but i don't hate anyone today because
of them. The instigators of the crimes against African Americans
are long gone, and this is a time for healing, not perpetuation.
Yes, there are still some racists among us, but they're slowly
dying out.
I can proudly identify with my ancestors, and i cry for
them, but i also live for them because they dreamed of a better
world for their children, and sacrificed so much for that dream
to come true. They survived torture, rape, mutilation and humiliation
for the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted everyday.
So how can i not honor that!!! We've come a long way, so why
can't we continue to go even further.

Daniel Gwynn