Written by: Colin Bruce Munro Wood – 07/12/2016 – 11:57AM ET
I've battled with this “Race” topic, that has recently taken America by storm. Renewing a battle that some thought ended in the 1960's. I've spent much time piecing together my thoughts, and how I wanted to carefully write about this sensitive topic. I have always been part of a diverse community throughout most of my life. To judge others by the color of their skin, or religious beliefs, to me, makes no sense.
I grew up in Ely Park Apartments, in Binghamton, NY in the 1970's. We were a diverse group of kids and adults. From the young age of 7, I started venturing out into my neighborhood and was always seeking out someone to play some sort of sport with. My first encounter of this nature was on the basketball courts of Ely Park. From 7 to 10 years old, I learned the game of basketball from a group of black gentleman, who were probably aged late teens to early 30's. I would usually have to stand a long time on the sidelines when I first started bugging these poor guys about playing with them. Just a little kid trying to fit in with the adults on a court that they dominated. Eventually, with much endurance, they finally allowed me to play with them after a few days of bugging them. Color? Skin? What was that to an innocent 8-year-old boy? What I saw were amazing basketball players, enjoying camaraderie, laughs, jostling, and physical dominance! I learned to respect people of different heritages at a very young age. These great men became my friends, and I learned about working hard to learn something new, from their encouragement, kindness, and patience!
Until 8th grade, I attended a private school, and there were no minorities in this school at all!! I always wondered why that was, as a kid. Where were my other friends, I played football with, and basketball, and discovered the woods with, that back-set our development, between Ely Park, and it's golf course. I had no idea at this age, that these “colored” friends of mine went to public schools. I had no idea the difference at the time.
Without going into detail of the horrid home life I endured as a child, the one great thing my very liberal parents taught me was to see everyone as equals and to appreciate our Constitution from a very young age. Thus, my strong constitutional beliefs. My parents ran Ely Park for a decade and were part of local performing groups Tri-Cities Opera, and Summer Savoyards, as well as the Director and a member of Sweet Adelines. I attended many rehearsals, and performances, and again, learned to see everyone as equals, as I constantly was in touch with a diverse group of “races”.
Needless to say, I grew up without any hatred or negative feelings toward what some consider other “races”. I have never seen the world as a group of races, but as a group of humans, all made the same way, and all functioning the in the same way, physically!
Humanism is what I learned from my parents. I thank them most of all for that lesson.
What I continue to be witness to across this great country, is a continuing bias toward minorities. Guess what everyone? Minorities are now the Majority! What do you plan to do as the country continues on that path, until “Whites” are THE minority?
I consider the growth of “minorities”, the strongest defense of our country in future relationships with the world! America must stop the hatred, the labeling of “races”, the judging, the rush to judgment, and become the world's example of global unity.
As a life-long entertainer, I have had the benefit of working with all sorts of nationalities, “colors”, and personas! When it came down to deciding whether I liked someone or not, it came down to their personalities, not their skin, not their nationality, not their religious beliefs. Basically, I don't look for differences in each person I meet, I look for what we share as Earthlings...human beings...
Again, Humanism is the future!
I want to admit, that for a short period of time in my life, I gave into the judgment of race. Four separate incidences happened to me in my days in NYC and NJ. In 1989, my girlfriend's purse was stolen off our table in Sbarro's in Times Square, right in front of our face. I chased the man down and tackled him, and funny enough, right in front of where was working at the time, Houlihan's. A group of undercover officers jumped on us immediately and arrested the culprit. We dropped the charges! In 1993, I'm working at Riviera Cafe on Christopher St., and a gentleman steals a $20 tip from my outside table. I jump the fence and chase him up the street, and my boss and bartender followed in tow with a bat in hand. Eventually, the man gave in and gave back my $20. I gave him $10 back. Forward to later that year, and I am robbed in my own apartment, by gunpoint, by 3 men, as I was subletting, and showing the place to them. Again, 1994, in NJ, outside a club, in my friend's car, we are robbed by three me on bicycles.
I talk about this example, because, I think we might all be able to look at some point in each of our lives, regardless of color, race, nationality, or religious belief, where we all have had dealt with judgmental feelings, and beliefs. We are all guilty of it!
The day we as a World, Earthlings, Humans, and brethren in blood, all come together as one, will be the day that mankind reaches the greatest achievement of all time!
I chastise myself to this day, for the time I judged in my life. It was a horrid feeling, to feel that way.
Today, I support #BLM, for the simple fact, that there is still a racial issue in our country, that is sadly deep rooted in our History. African Americans, who were forced to come to the colonies, kidnapped from their own countries, and treated like animals, have just as important a role, if not more important role in America's history, and culture. Where would America be, without the beautiful history of African Americans? We'd be a less cultured Country, with a more boring history for sure!
I love my brethren, and fellow Americans, regardless of what kind of human they are. Humans! We are all humans!!!! That is all I see! When will America learn this? When will we remember the words that the Statue of Liberty stands for?
It is time America, to step up to the plate and become the World's leader in Humanism. Now is our chance to shine as a nation, and stop the hatred! Let us be leaders of love and equality!
I close with this:
“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!"” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
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