Integration
One young man's experience.21 total reviews
Comment from Tom Horonzy
Was your selected college either Hardin-Simmons orAbilene Christian? Hard to imagine that was fifty five years ago
I enjoyed your entry and it's humorš??³.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
  |
Was your selected college either Hardin-Simmons orAbilene Christian? Hard to imagine that was fifty five years ago
I enjoyed your entry and it's humorš??³.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Tom, thanks for reading and the review. HSU. Terry
Comment from GWHARGIS
It's all about the individual and the willingness to see things from another's perspective. You were an individual. Pee Wee was an individual. Masses are a scary intity. There is no thought in a mass. It is action. Good or bad. I really enjoyed this. Gretchen
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
It's all about the individual and the willingness to see things from another's perspective. You were an individual. Pee Wee was an individual. Masses are a scary intity. There is no thought in a mass. It is action. Good or bad. I really enjoyed this. Gretchen
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Gretchen, thank you for your review and reading my story. Terry.
Comment from Sally Law
A wonderful retelling of the racial unrest from your perspective, Terry. Those were some difficult years. I was living in Florida at the time and in seventh grade. Our school was on the cusp of being integrated and many were in a tizzy. I was perfectly fine with it as the racial thing passed over me completely. I ran track and sang in chorus and had many black friends all throughout the remainder of school.
Living in upstate New York was a real culture shock as they was very few blacks in the area. Really, such a shock to me. We had one family in our church that was a retired football player. That was it. Honestly, I was stunned at the difference between Florida, my native Georgia and New York. I was expecting it to be different. It may be now but from what I understand, the area has remained much the same.
I may be different in my opinions about this, but to me race is one race, the human race.
One area at the end--
"...two twenty-one-year-old men...." Add hyphens and missing [old] to sentence.
Blessings, Terry.
Sal :)) xo
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
A wonderful retelling of the racial unrest from your perspective, Terry. Those were some difficult years. I was living in Florida at the time and in seventh grade. Our school was on the cusp of being integrated and many were in a tizzy. I was perfectly fine with it as the racial thing passed over me completely. I ran track and sang in chorus and had many black friends all throughout the remainder of school.
Living in upstate New York was a real culture shock as they was very few blacks in the area. Really, such a shock to me. We had one family in our church that was a retired football player. That was it. Honestly, I was stunned at the difference between Florida, my native Georgia and New York. I was expecting it to be different. It may be now but from what I understand, the area has remained much the same.
I may be different in my opinions about this, but to me race is one race, the human race.
One area at the end--
"...two twenty-one-year-old men...." Add hyphens and missing [old] to sentence.
Blessings, Terry.
Sal :)) xo
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Sally, thank you for reading and catching the edits. I think your observations are right on the money. Terry.
-
Most welcome! My pleasure as always. Sal :))
Comment from Jim Wile
Great story, Terry. Why couldn't it have been just so, with two guys who could make a little fun of the forced integration efforts and just enjoyed each other's company, became friends, and forgot about race.
I think integration would have naturally happened over time had the government, with its well-intentioned but ultimately destructive policies like busing and the massive expansion of the welfare system, not been foisted upon us.
This was a wonderful reminder of how people, if left to freely associate, will.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
 |
Great story, Terry. Why couldn't it have been just so, with two guys who could make a little fun of the forced integration efforts and just enjoyed each other's company, became friends, and forgot about race.
I think integration would have naturally happened over time had the government, with its well-intentioned but ultimately destructive policies like busing and the massive expansion of the welfare system, not been foisted upon us.
This was a wonderful reminder of how people, if left to freely associate, will.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Jim, thank you for your review and the six stars. Your insights and observations have a great deal of merit. Thanks, Terry.
Comment from Ulla
Hi Terry, I suppose most of the Western world was in uproar about the war in Vietnam, which is spelled in one word, by the way. Demonstrations took place all over Europe bringing cities to a stand still. I don't know whether you were aware of that. I liked your piece. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
Hi Terry, I suppose most of the Western world was in uproar about the war in Vietnam, which is spelled in one word, by the way. Demonstrations took place all over Europe bringing cities to a stand still. I don't know whether you were aware of that. I liked your piece. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Ulla, thank you for reading and correcting my spelling. I was aware of some demonstrations taking place in Europe, but it was not center stage in our media the way things were in the states. Terry.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
What a lovely, funny, and excellent story that was. Why can't everyone be like the two of you? There would be no wars, only friendships, wouldn't that be grand? But we will always have those that will disagree, and go to war just because they wanted to stop the peace from happening. Until those people get to change their minds, peace, racial equality, all those things, will never happen. So sad, isn't it? Well done, Terry, this was a lovely story. :) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
What a lovely, funny, and excellent story that was. Why can't everyone be like the two of you? There would be no wars, only friendships, wouldn't that be grand? But we will always have those that will disagree, and go to war just because they wanted to stop the peace from happening. Until those people get to change their minds, peace, racial equality, all those things, will never happen. So sad, isn't it? Well done, Terry, this was a lovely story. :) Sandra xx
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Sandra, thank you for the astute review. Terry.
Comment from nomi338
This is a very clear indication at how simple racial problems might ultimately be resolved. It begins with the simple realization of despite our surface differences, we are one and the same people who just happen to look a little different. Some people like Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and some others, the difference in appearance becomes even more clouded. The lines between speech and a few other things has practically disappeared. We often say the same things, the same way, wear the same clothes, watch the same movies, you name it. We are steadily becoming the same in every way that matters. This, I believe is what is driving the haters mad. They want to maintain the razor thin difference. The reason being, the maintaining of privilege. Whatever the heck that is.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
This is a very clear indication at how simple racial problems might ultimately be resolved. It begins with the simple realization of despite our surface differences, we are one and the same people who just happen to look a little different. Some people like Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and some others, the difference in appearance becomes even more clouded. The lines between speech and a few other things has practically disappeared. We often say the same things, the same way, wear the same clothes, watch the same movies, you name it. We are steadily becoming the same in every way that matters. This, I believe is what is driving the haters mad. They want to maintain the razor thin difference. The reason being, the maintaining of privilege. Whatever the heck that is.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Thank you, and I believe Happy Birthday greeting may be in order for a milestone number! Your observations are on target as usual. Pee Wee was a good guy and had a great sense of humor. Terry.
-
I do understand that many people want to feel superior to someone else. The Bible says in order to be better than your fellow, be the best at being a humble servant of your brother, considering others to be superior to yourself.
Comment from Annmuma
Great Post! A good sense of humor always provides a fertile place to find some common ground. Did you guys remain in touch at all or become more than roommate friends? I like your short sentences and ease of reading style of writing. Just enough information to allow the write to 'know' the characters without getting lost in personalities but rather focused on the 'point' of the story, i.e. 'under the skin, we are all alike - at least on some levels.' I always enjoy seeing your stories here. ann
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
Great Post! A good sense of humor always provides a fertile place to find some common ground. Did you guys remain in touch at all or become more than roommate friends? I like your short sentences and ease of reading style of writing. Just enough information to allow the write to 'know' the characters without getting lost in personalities but rather focused on the 'point' of the story, i.e. 'under the skin, we are all alike - at least on some levels.' I always enjoy seeing your stories here. ann
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Ann, thank you for reading and for the six stars. Pee Wee was a good friend my junior and senior year. After graduation, like so many others we lost contact. I remember hearing he became a teacher and coach. A really good guy and funny. Terry.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this with us. I enjoyed reading in 1967 I was in jr. high school. As much as some things changes many things have remained the same. In many ways that's sad.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
Thank you for sharing this with us. I enjoyed reading in 1967 I was in jr. high school. As much as some things changes many things have remained the same. In many ways that's sad.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Barbara, thank you for reading. It is sad that the things that need to change don't. Terry.
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
Great story, and perfectly delivered. The question is, of course, did you stay friends with Pee-Wee after college, or did you lose touch? I like to think that a shared sense of humour could overcome such different hobbies. kay
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
|
Great story, and perfectly delivered. The question is, of course, did you stay friends with Pee-Wee after college, or did you lose touch? I like to think that a shared sense of humour could overcome such different hobbies. kay
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
-
Kay, thank you for reading and the six stars. Like so many others after college I lost touch. I did hear he became a teacher and coach, and I am sure he kept his sense of humor. Terry.