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In My Lifetime

In my lifetime we've come a long way in the USA
   I remember when the signs in the South read 'Whites only!'
No 'Jews or N-word-types Allowed!' -- swear to God
   Cicero, IL was lily-white, as was my high school
With no people of color, Poles and Italians did fight
   No blacks on TV, and the names were all Christianized
Little wonder the sitcom humor seemed canned and homogenized

Today is far different; we're a rainbow of colors
   We think nothing of whites walking next to black others
We've had an African-American President and First Lady
   Senators and Congressmen from Somalia and Haiti
The one drawback is this: With all of our newfound diversity
   It seems we're grinding our gears in the muck of perversity

Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2021

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Michelle Faulkner Date: 1/11/2021 8:52:00 PM My mother grew up in the Segregated South of the 40's and 50's - she remembers the 'whites' and 'colored' bathrooms, schools and hospitals - we have come a long way, but I fear we are beginning to regress, but there are more accepting, open hearted people now also! Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 1/12/2021 4:56:00 PM Yup, your mother's right. I saw some in 1957. They read: 'No Jews, No Negroes, and no dogs allowed. They were in restrooms and restaurants, as I recall. As a Jew, they actually didn't affect me much, as the restaurants weren't kosher anyway. I would never have been caught dead in them anyway. lol. Plus, my philosophy is: Don't go where you're not wanted. O.K. enough of that... As for open-hearted people, perhaps there are more now. I wouldn't bet the farm on it though. Thanks for a comment with some real content, Michelle. Warmest wishes, Gershon

Unseeking Seeker Date: 1/11/2021 8:21:00 PM Great write Gershon! Racial bias both is and isn’t. Each takes his or her own call. And yet herd mindsets cannot be denied. Then we have prejudice based on religion, social status ... Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 1/12/2021 4:58:00 PM I actually believe that almost everyone is biased to some extent, based on bad experiences at impressionable moments -- from which we mere humans tend to extrapolate... We just ought to grit our teeth, smile, and move on. Not worth holding grudges. :) gw