Growing Up In the Sixties

As a young teen I sadly confess, I dreamt of becoming an actress.
A class assignment drew me to Warner's  in D.C., where I
brushed up against black history..
I stumbled into a meeting of the NAACP.
The people  welcomed one out of touch, this
young white girl who had way too much..
Months later, although mom's words were harsh my dad and I
went to the Poor Peoples March. I was amazed to see thousands there,
those pop up tents from every where. I drove by with peripheral vision, 
those fleeting glimpses of how others were living..
Early years passed and I matured some how, remaining oblivious to "black
power".
I graduated from high school and was freed from mom and watched as
several of my class mates went straight to Viet Nam..
I never went to Woodstock nor protested the war, too caught up in my
story to care about the poor..
I moved from sheltered Silver Spring to New York City and had my own
adventures there, some not very pretty..
I indulged in a little "huffing and puffing". My hands were in a wheat film
buttering an English muffin..
Impulsiveness and hormones got the best of me so at a young age I
began my family..
Many moons later while finishing my degree I learned so much more
about Black history. As a minority student at Bowie State I had a teacher,
Dr. Kondo and he was truly great. He had just consulted for the film
Malcolm X and filled me in on all those voids not written in the texts.
The greatest of gifts that one can bestow is to take off those blind folds
and help some one grow.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

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Rodrigues Avatar
November 14, 2022 at 5:54 PM
Every experience can help us grow!
Kaufman Avatar
November 15, 2022 at 11:09 AM
absolutely. When and where I grew up in Silver Spring Maryland there wasn't any diversity at all and down town actually had white bars separated from ones for blacks. There has been significant change but the ugly head of racism is still with us unfortunately.
Hankins Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 12:42 PM
Sounds like you had a rich background of experiences which propelled you toward becoming a great teacher! I enjoyed this.
Kaufman Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 12:51 PM
thanks Milton but I never formally taught any one. I did groups for my boys in placement at Board of Child Care and only substitute taught for a hiccup a long time ago. I'm sure I qualify for the Guiness for job hopping.
Leffanta Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Students are also great teachers! Aloha!
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