Until people of all races actually opens their eyes and see things as they really are, there will never be change. The late, great Harper Lee wrote two books in her lifetime. The book "Go Set a Watchman" challenges all to look at self and make the necessary changes. Stand for what's right even when it hurts. The character, Jean Louise was confused and upset by her father, Atticus's positions as they were conflicting to everything he had ever shown her. Since this was the first novel that was written by Harper Lee in the 1950’s, but published in 2015, we all know that racism was alive and well back then. But what are we going to do about it now?
In her second book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” even though, it was published in the 1960’s, it is seen through the eyes of a six year old girl showing her father as a man of great integrity. The novel expresses tolerance~ a fair, impartial, and non-judgmental attitude toward those whose beliefs, views, practices, racial freedom differ from racism. I’ve been blessed to be a part of carrying Harper Lee's message all over the world. I've had the opportunity to be a cast member of the Production Play TKAM in my hometown for over 17 years and it exposes a lot that happened in the 1930's in a small fictional town call "Maycomb" that Harper Lee wrote about. A fictional character by the name of Atticus Finch, a lawyer, who was one of the few men that stood up to save a man's life, who had been wrongfully charge for raping a woman of another race. This book is very educational, and it's a must read for everybody. The old saying goes; "those that forget the past are doom to repeat it"! Racism still exists in many places but who will it now be in today’s society that will stand boldly against something so horrible?
Most people tip-toe on this subject we call racism. There are so many people who do not understand the word; racism. Racism is: “a belief or policy that’s been accepted for a long time in the midst of the different human racial groups to determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is lesser than the other”.
Our future generations will suffer unless we take a look in the mirror! It's not only about me and mine, it's about all. Children imitate what they see their parents do, and say what they hear their parents say. All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. In order for us to start making the change, and I'm speaking to all races, we must go back to the bible and keep this scripture close to our hearts, Proverbs 22:6- "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it". Whatever is instilled in a child, that's what manifests? No baby is born with a racist spirit or attitude.
There have been tens of thousands of people who have come and watched the play for many years. If the book and the play of "To Kill a Mockingbird" are so real to so many, we need to get rid of the lip service and put it into action in real life. It's high time we stop hiding behind the book. Once we look through the eyes of others, then we can see what is really happening. Many places are suffering for good jobs; school systems are not what they supposed to be. Let us seek equality for all people; no matter the race, color, background or creed! We all are one nation under God!
While I have been tolerant of the behavior of some people of color toward me during my 30+ years working in predominantly black institutions, in the end it is behavior that frames much of our view of others. For example, my partner, who is Asian, doesn't think of herself as racist, but she has strong opinions formed from her experience with people of color coming to her shop. Almost daily, she comes with the story about people behaving badly and trying to cheat her, lying or acting lazy in her presence.
Ron