Memories of College Days, Race relations, and finding ways to achieve harmony and peace with all of God's peoples of many beautiful colors - reflecting His Great Love for us!

Pic: Keith With Neighbors In A Walk For Peace - June 1 2020

In theses troubled times of race relations, memories of my college Days and finding ways to achieve harmony and peace with all of God's peoples of many beautiful colors - reflecting His Great Love for us!

“We don't rent to N's here!” Mrs. R said on the phone to my African-American friend and Loyola classmate, Tyrone, back in 1980; this was the second unfortunate time “T,” as he was affectionately known, heard this told to him by her – first, in person, and secondly on the phone. But this last time, a cassette player was recording those dreaded and hated words!

In my college 'Yat days, I attended Loyola for Social Work and had befriended T through some LUCAP (Loyola University Community Action Programs) endeavors.

T and I used to hangout on campus and were involved in LUCAP outreach programs to the low-income folks in the inner city.

As an Uptowner in New Orleans and having attended parochial schools like Holy Name of Jesus and De La Salle, I had been pretty insulated from diversity, and so was I glad in college to also attend Xavier University for some Social Work Cross-Curriculum (SWCC) classes, where I befriended many folks.

It was also great to attend Dominican College, which was on St. Charles and Broadway, for some SWCC – especially since I was one of the only guys attending that campus, so I got a lot of attention from the gals!

And it was so cool in the late 70s to have Dr. Baylor, then wife of Elgin - the famous NBA player and one time coach of the New Orleans Jazz – as a Social Work teacher! It was so neat to have a class meeting once with her at our house that was located on the corner of Broadway and Spruce Streets, when we were working on a school project. My mother couldn't believe we had Elgin's wife over!

I never was brought up by my parents with any sense of prejudice towards others, but the underlying sense of growing up separately and with little exposure to other people of color, certainly was a pervading influence – and very well may still be for all of us.

So when I had found out that T needed a place to stay, I had a suggestion for him, as I just moved from my parents house to a boarding-like two story house on Palmer Avenue near Willow – just to get out on my own and have some freedom. Mrs. R only charged $ 90 / month for about 6 of us to use rooms in the “basement,” as us N'Awlins folks natives usually refer to the first floor, and share a bathroom and kitchen facilities.

At the time of T's first meeting with Mrs. R, I was not present, but couldn't believe what T had told me! I convinced T to give her another try, as she really was a nice elderly lady who may have been “set in her ways,” but I noted to T that another resident there from India had darker skin than him!

Well, unfortunately, T had to hear those dreaded words for a second time when he called her, and he did wind up getting the NAACP to fine Mrs. R per some legal proceedings with the audio tape. I really don't think Mrs. R was hateful, but some things can get so ingrained in all of us. There really is no such thing as separate and/but equal!

I'm not so sure we have “advanced” much in these kinds of concerns – just check out the news online or, if you are like me, per “a hand-held device:” the old fashioned Advocate Newspaper!

I think I got being “eternally optimistic” from my dad, who had such a wonderful outlook on life and certainly respected folks from all walks of life, so I will end this column with some lyrics from a song, “Colored People,” from one of my favorite Contemporary Christian Music Groups, dc Talk, whom I hope will eventually have a reunion.

I do plan to march again like I have for many years in the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. gathering at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church on Monday, January 18, 2016.

dc Talk "Colored People" song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFIKUNUNavU

“Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir
I couldn't help but note your shade of melanin
I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement
Cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin

We've gotta come together
And thank the Maker of us all

[Chorus]

We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace ….”