The Feel of Freedom - memories of how the Civil Rights movement changed our lives! - Forum 2.0

Galen this discussion put me in a rambling mold,I remember for colored and for white signs,the back of buses,back doors (take out only)food service at certain restaurant.Here's one I haven't figure out to this day.When riding with a white person,we weren't allowed to ride in the front seat with them,(were we being chauffeur)?When I drive someone ,I feel a lot safer with them in the front ,rather than riding behind me.All African American men had the same name,that name was boy.The African American women were refer to, as if there were a relationship, they were call auntie,mama or just girl.You were expected to address a white male , with yes sir or no sir,.We worked side my side with whites but we had separate break rooms.While dressed in my army uniform,prepared to lay down my life for my country.I was deny the use of a rest room in Ft. Smith Arkansas. Profiling was expected,it was a way of live.The downtown movie is another one I can't figure out, we had the balcony seating, while the whites had the lower seating.I would think one is in greater danger in the lower seating section. I could go on and on but let me ramble from a different perspective.The civil right movements were great ,it enable us to receive all the rights, provided by the laws of the land. These rights were so rightfully deserved and earned with blood and lives. Somehow we lost so many of the values, that were a part of our life style.I have a very long list,I will touch on only a few.We had all types of African American owned business,that we supported.We weren't on every corner or in front of business begging for spare change.We made good music, we didn't make music that was down grading to our race and belittling our women.We are so happy with these rights,we are being blindsided,by other nationality.They all make more money from us than we from them ,even on the products, that are used by African American alone.They build and own the jails ,we fill them up,hair and hair products, I refuse to speak on hair,I don't want to get my blood pressure up. Let me pass this topic on to some one else . I would like to know how some of you feel about this important part of our past and present.It had a bearing on our lives,how were you affected? Do you hate ,have you forgiven, do you expect something,do you care, have you forgotten, can you talk about it?This is the month set aside to talk about our history that some of us were never taught in school.For me it's every day learning,and I'm loving it.From the invention of the red light to recipe for dressing,right down to the real ma coy,air conditions, and the list goes on, I't about much more than the peanut.

Hello Galen my thoughts on the civil right movement,are all over the place. Let's start with the feelings I have to this day.That's a feeling of guilt.I have a guilty feeling because I could have done more.Although the distinctive part of the movement didn't come through Dallas like it did in the deep south.I can't use that as an excuse.I remember the dog bits. the hosing,the clubing,the injustice of the system,to the constant fear we shared for the lives of our leaders,the hopes,to the prayers,the bombing of our churches,death of our children and a lot of bloodshed.Governor George Wallace blocking the entrance at the University of Alabama,over court orders,trying to keep those two brave student ,Vivian Malone and James Hood from enrolling,at the University of Alabama just because of the color of their skin.Just hearing the name Selma,Mobil, Memphis , Montgomery awake a time in history that I'm still haunted by, to this day.I remember back in aug. of 1963 standing in front of Phillco black and white TV beaming with pride as Dr.King spoke to the nations about a dream he had.I had a similar experience when that Supreme Justice ask President Obama to raise his right hand to be sworn in as the next President of the United States of America. Not being as muncho as you ,I say with pride,there was water,this water didn't come from a bottle they were tears of joy.Realizing where we had come from.Dr.King's dream is still in an infant stage, we have such a long way to go.What I'm doing to help keep the dream alive,is working with Rev.Peter Johnson trying to combat the injustices of today. Rev Johnson is a front line solider who walked hand in with most of our great civil right leaders.Working with Rev. Johnson has given me the opputunity to meet the likes of REV.J. Lowery,Ambassor A.Young,mrs King,and all the King sibling.Just being in their company is special but the stories are so rewarding.Do what you can to help keep the dream alive and please keep our President in your prayers.

Replies

Fred Walker February 16, 2010 at 11:18am

Galen this discussion put me in a rambling mold,I remember for colored and for white signs,the back of buses,back doors (take out only)food service at certain restaurant.Here's one I haven't figure out to this day.When riding with a white person,we weren't allowed to ride in the front seat with them,(were we being chauffeur)?When I drive someone ,I feel a lot safer with them in the front ,rather than riding behind me.All African American men had the same name,that name was boy.The African American women were refer to, as if there were a relationship, they were call auntie,mama or just girl.You were expected to address a white male , with yes sir or no sir,.We worked side my side with whites but we had separate break rooms.While dressed in my army uniform,prepared to lay down my life for my country.I was deny the use of a rest room in Ft. Smith Arkansas. Profiling was expected,it was a way of live.The downtown movie is another one I can't figure out, we had the balcony seating, while the whites had the lower seating.I would think one is in greater danger in the lower seating section. I could go on and on but let me ramble from a different perspective.The civil right movements were great ,it enable us to receive all the rights, provided by the laws of the land. These rights were so rightfully deserved and earned with blood and lives. Somehow we lost so many of the values, that were a part of our life style.I have a very long list,I will touch on only a few.We had all types of African American owned business,that we supported.We weren't on every corner or in front of business begging for spare change.We made good music, we didn't make music that was down grading to our race and belittling our women.We are so happy with these rights,we are being blindsided,by other nationality.They all make more money from us than we from them ,even on the products, that are used by African American alone.They build and own the jails ,we fill them up,hair and hair products, I refuse to speak on hair,I don't want to get my blood pressure up. Let me pass this topic on to some one else . I would like to know how some of you feel about this important part of our past and present.It had a bearing on our lives,how were you affected? Do you hate ,have you forgiven, do you expect something,do you care, have you forgotten, can you talk about it?This is the month set aside to talk about our history that some of us were never taught in school.For me it's every day learning,and I'm loving it.From the invention of the red light to recipe for dressing,right down to the real ma coy,air conditions, and the list goes on, I't about much more than the peanut.
Fred Walker February 12, 2010 at 9:23pm

Hello Galen my thoughts on the civil right movement,are all over the place. Let's start with the feelings I have to this day.That's a feeling of guilt.I have a guilty feeling because I could have done more.Although the distinctive part of the movement didn't come through Dallas like it did in the deep south.I can't use that as an excuse.I remember the dog bits. the hosing,the clubing,the injustice of the system,to the constant fear we shared for the lives of our leaders,the hopes,to the prayers,the bombing of our churches,death of our children and a lot of bloodshed.Governor George Wallace blocking the entrance at the University of Alabama,over court orders,trying to keep those two brave student ,Vivian Malone and James Hood from enrolling,at the University of Alabama just because of the color of their skin.Just hearing the name Selma,Mobil, Memphis , Montgomery awake a time in history that I'm still haunted by, to this day.I remember back in aug. of 1963 standing in front of Phillco black and white TV beaming with pride as Dr.King spoke to the nations about a dream he had.I had a similar experience when that Supreme Justice ask President Obama to raise his right hand to be sworn in as the next President of the United States of America. Not being as muncho as you ,I say with pride,there was water,this water didn't come from a bottle they were tears of joy.Realizing where we had come from.Dr.King's dream is still in an infant stage, we have such a long way to go.What I'm doing to help keep the dream alive,is working with Rev.Peter Johnson trying to combat the injustices of today. Rev Johnson is a front line solider who walked hand in with most of our great civil right leaders.Working with Rev. Johnson has given me the opputunity to meet the likes of REV.J. Lowery,Ambassor A.Young,mrs King,and all the King sibling.Just being in their company is special but the stories are so rewarding.Do what you can to help keep the dream alive and please keep our President in your prayers.

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