The "Sundown Towns: Are They A Thing Of The Past?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Back in mid-June of this year I wrote a few stories titled "Black Lives Matter" with one of them talking about the small town to the North-West of Lancaster, Pennsylvania by the name of Elizabethtown.  E-town, as it is known, is about 20 miles from Lancaster.  It is a community of about 11,000 residents that is situated in scenic northwestern Lancaster County and is about 10 miles south of Hershey and 20 miles from Harrisburg and York as well as Lancaster.  The Borough of Elizabethtown provides a variety of municipal services and activities that contribute to the exceptional quality of life in Elizabethtown.  And, it also was the topic of a story written on August 9th by Lancaster Newspaper's "The Scribbler", aka Jack Brubaker.  The title of his column that particular Sunday was "Was Elizabethtown a segregated 'sundown town'?   For those readers who may never have ever heard of a "Sundown Town," also know as a "Sunset Town"  or "Gray Town", it is a locale were everyone living in the neighborhood is white in color.  

The term came from signs posted that said "colored people" had to leave the town by sundown.  The practice was usually part of southern state towns, but certainly was not restricted to just the south.  These towns had a practice of excluding non-whites via some combination of discriminatory local laws, intimidation, and violence.  Northern states could be just as inhospitable to black travelers as states from the South.  Since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and especially since the Fair Housing Act of 1968, prohibition of racial discrimination in the sale and rental and financing of housing, the number of sundown towns has decreased.  "The Scribbler" had a question sent to him asking if he knew if the town of Elizabethtown was at one time one of these such towns.  Elizabethtown's borough manager, Rebecca Denlinger, told Jack that she knows nothing about a sundown ordinance that prohibited dark-skinned people from living in Elizabethtown.  But, that wasn't the same answer given to Jack by some of the "old-timers" of the town.  One fellow reported that Elizabethtown was lily white from the 1930's until the 1950s.  Another gentleman told about E-town being a sundown town.  Mr. Gordon Berrier, who had lived in E-town for the majority of his 89 years, reported that some people who worked in some of the houses couldn't stay in the town overnight.  He said that in the early 1950s there were no Blacks going to school at Elizabethtown High School.  He also said that his Civics teacher said that in the 1930's an older black man wanted to stay at the town jailhouse overnight, but was told that Mount Joy was 5 miles down the road and he would have to travel there to stay overnight.  Mount Joy was not a sundown town, but Elizabethtown was.  Mr. Berrier also told Jack that if you hired a Black person in Elizabethtown, that person was required to leave town before the sun went down.  Gordon Berrier's younger brother Jerry reported that one of his best friends was a Black student in the nearby Mount Joy School System.  His name was Gerald Wilson and was a star basketball player for Mt. Joy in the early 1950s.  Gerald Wilson's son, Gerald, Jr., who lived in Manheim Township were I reside, said that every time his father played basketball in Elizabethtown, the police had to escort him on and off the court and when he ran back and forth on the court the E-town cheerleaders tried to trip him.  Sociologist James Loewen wrote "Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism" and his website updates the book by adding that Elizabethtown was most certainly a sundown town.  Actually, if you search the database for Pennsylvania and sundown towns, you will find not only Elizabethtown, but Manheim, New Holland and Conestoga.  And, there may also be some areas of the city of Lancaster that also had restrictions prohibiting selling houses to people of color.  Some practices are hard to get rid of, but it will eventually happen.  But, why does it have to take so long?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Discovering Something Truly Magical In The Caribbean! Part I" Story

If you have been reading this blog site for any length of time, you realize that my wife and I enjoy traveling to the Caribbean as often as we can.  Hasn't happened lately, for obviously reasons, and we are very upset that we can't have or island time.  But, sh*t happens and can't be avoided.  I guess it's called life.  I was recently sent an email from one of our friends who grew up in nearby Williamsport, but who married an islander from Sint Maarten and changed locations.  Oh, to be so lucky!  We try and visit with Barbara as often as we can while on Sint Maarten.  But, we love all the Caribbean islands and find each one just a tad bit different.  Barbara recently sent me a posting of a blog known as "The Traveling Island Girl."  She posted an article that would be well worth your reading.  Makes you thing a bit more when you visit the Caribbean, but can also relate to your own community as well.  The post is rather lengthy, but I didn't know what to delete, so I included the entire posting.  Read it and see what someone who lives in the Caribbean thinks about racism.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

How to be anti-racist when visiting the Caribbean

     I started writing this post so many times and ended up typing furiously away on my keys like a mad black woman. This post always makes me drag up things I’d rather not remember, which then leads to anger and frustration and my anxiety level rising. Ain’t nobody got time for that. So, I end up slamming my laptop shut and going about my day, trying to forget all about my terrible experiences at the hands of clueless white people everywhere.

     But this is not the message I want to convey. I am not that forever-mad-at-the-world person. I believe in educating. So, I present to thee attempt number 4 at writing this piece without letting the anger and frustration get the best of me.

     Although I have done a Do and Don’ts about the Caribbean before (click here to read it again) this one is similar yet slightly different. This is the list of Do ‘s and Don’ts when it comes to a possible racist or perceived racist behavior when in the Caribbean.

     I know, I know. I too am growing tired of having to discuss it, but it has to be done. Tomorrow this Black Lives Matter movement might be over but I’ll still be black. You see, I do believe that some white visitors that come to our islands are actually clueless to how they sound and how their behavior and comments can actually be considered insulting, hurtful and yes, even racist.

     As an always glass-half-full kinda gal, I see it my duty not to get mad and nasty but to try to point it out to you, and hopefully educate you, and in so doing, avoiding you of ever doing certain things again. Not only when you’re visiting the Caribbean, where the majority of populationis black, by the way, but also when you have encounters with people that are different than you back at home or during some of your other travels

     I wish I could describe to you an oasis of acceptance when describing the Caribbean but the sad reality is that racism is alive and well here too. In fact it is an integral part of our history and culture. I don’t think that I need to mention that the whole reason the majority of the population in the Caribbean islands is black is because of slavery, where black people were sold like cattle to the highest bidder, right? I think by now, we all know this.

     Racism in the Caribbean exists. It’s sad when you realize that the one place people visit to get away from all the ugly in the world, has a pretty nasty history behind it. A history that pursues us, the black people of these islands, to this day.

     That’s one thing COVID-19 and Racism have in common: It’s everywhere. Even in ideal places, such as here, where coconut trees sway in the gentle salty breeze, on white sandy beaches, with turquoise waters.

     Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the Caribbean shores each year for some sun, sand and sea and of course the mandatory rum based cocktail and laid back atmosphere. They bring with them their suntan lotions, ignorance and white privilege. Some pack that last one with intent while others have no idea it slipped in between their swimwear, just like the family cat trying to join the vacay-fun when everyone’s too busy packing to notice.

     Most of us Caribbean folk are simple people who love a good time as much as the next person and even though life can sometimes be hard, we remain friendly, helpful and the perfect hosts. Most of us were brought up knowing that tourism is our bread and butter and a happy visitor means better tips and a repeat trip to our shores. So, we bend over backwards to please you. We sacrifice time with family to tend to your every need.

     But please do not take our servitude and need to please as a weakness. We are educated. We are business owners. We are Caribbean. That word to us in a lot of ways means resilience. 

They say one must strike when the iron is hot and since the topic of racism is mucho hot at the moment, I thought it best to educate you on a few of the do’s and don’ts, while you’re suntanning on our beaches. Just 10 simple things to keep in mind while you’re here.

Don’t Assume. When you Assume you make an Ass of U and Me

Beware of assumptions. They can make you feel like an idiot when you’re corrected. And boy, do visitors assume the worst of the local people when here.

A few of the more popular assumptions are:

the black local in the store must work here and cannot possibly be shopping at the same place as you

the black local serving you at the bar must be just a waitress/waiter/bartender, and cannot possibly own the place the black local living here, does so because he or she does not have a choice every black person on the island must be a local.

all black locals are poor and uneducated.

black locals don’t travel and definitely don’t stay at the same resorts we do.

Do yourself a favor and educate yourself. Making assumptions such as these makes you the uneducated in the bunch, not the black local you’re assuming must be below you on your ridiculous totem pole of class. Not because we speak a different English means that we’re below you or that we’re slow.

Do learn about our traditions and history before you arrive and while you’re here.

We love to talk to you about our upbringing, our traditions and the history of the island. While you’re here, why not visit a museum, or a history walk around town or an educational hike, where you can learn about the indigenous flora and fauna? The islands are so much more than just sun, sand and sea and our history is truly fascinating. Learn the truth about plantation homes, about the indigenous inhabitants of the islands (the true Caribbean people), learn about the truth behind our colorful carnival celebrations. Buy from local stores, sit at local bars, eat at local restaurants.

Do attend our local events

Each Caribbean island has one or more traditional annual event. Carnival is one such event that takes place throughout the year, on different days on each island. But besides carnival there are other very important days commemorating very important occurrences in history. On St. Maarten two of those days are Emancipation day on July 1st and St. Maarten’s Day on November 11th for example. Find out if there is a traditional local event happening on the Caribbean island you’re planning to visit and make an effort to be a part of the celebration.

Don’t let your fears and insecurities shape the view of us

Not all black people steal, not all black people are dangerous, not all black people are out to harm you. It’s the same with any other color. I cannot tell you how many times I have approached someone who was obviously very lost, just to be met with scared looks and car windows being rolled up. I don’t even look that menacing, do I? Or when white visitors actually went to complain to management of a high end resort about a black local family at the resort pool. Get over yourself.

Do take the time to learn about the island

It’s indoctrinated in us to be friendly and helpful. It is what we do. Sure, you have those that take advantage of any situation but I assure you it’s not because of the color of their skin or because they’re from the Caribbean with no place else to go. Besides, have you stopped to think how many times black locals are duped out of their money by white men in fancy suits?

Learn about the education system before making assumptions that just because of the size of the island it is impossible to get a higher education. That, my white friend, is just not the case. Most of the islands actually have colleges and universities and some of them rank higher than some schools in the US, and Canada. Shocking, right? And for those of us who don’t have a college or university on our island home or cannot major in what we want in the Caribbean, we enroll in colleges and universities in Europe, the US or Canada. I studied Marketing in the Netherlands, so did many of my friends and fellow islanders, while others preferred to further their studies elsewhere in the world.  Take the time to understand us before you jump to conclusions.

Do make an effort to know more black locals

Good for you, You know the black bartender’s name at that fancy resort you’re staying at. But do you know the black hotel manager, the black owner of the bar/restaurant you like to visit, the black shopkeeper where you like shop, the black taxi driver that drives you around? I don’t mean to just ask them their names or how much damage they had after a hurricane (please stop asking that by the way). But have you ever bothered to really get to know them? Next time you’re in the Caribbean, make an effort to get to know about the locals you encounter, whatever their color might be because we come in different shades of any color. Dare to get out of your comfort zone once in a while. Hanging out with other tourists might just keep you from experiencing things you otherwise wouldn’t. And wouldn’t that be a shame?

Do smile and say Hello

Like I mentioned above, we are not scary people. We are not uneducated. Most of us speak multiple languages. We do travel as well and might even have visited your neck of the woods. But no matter what we look like, or the color of our skin, or how poor you might assume we are, it is human decency to smile and say Hello. Try it with your grocery bagger at the supermarket, or the gas attendee, or the store worker or the old black lady sitting on a street corner selling her handmade craft.

Don’t ignore our values and traditions

Just like you, we too have our values and traditions. For instance it is very rude not to say a greeting when you enter a store or walk past someone. It’s important to acknowledge that the person is there. Do say good morning, good afternoon and good evening before asking whatever it is that you want to know from the person in front of you. I’ve read it on so many message boards how a visitor had a terrible encounter with a local and how that local was so rude but did you stop to think how rude the visitor might have been to the local? Another little something to remember is that this is not your home. You are a guest. And while things might not run the way you are used to, it doesn’t give you the right to criticize it or belittle it. Besides, the whole point of traveling is to experience other cultures, traditions and values than your own.

Don’t think you know better just because you come from the great mainland. 

This one here is precious because I cannot count how many times I have sat at a bar next to some white expat or visitor, who tries to tell me how talented and well respected he/she is back home and that here we basically should fall at his/her feet and thank him/her for visiting.

I don’t care what you used to do back home and how popular and great you were at something. To most of us respect is what counts. Respect me and my home and I will respect you and yours.

Just because we are a small community does not mean we are helpless or clueless. At no time should you feel or think that you are better than us.

While we’re on this topic don’t make fun of our way of life or accent. We are not your designated black jester, here to entertain you. Besides, You might want to remember that here, you’re the one with the accent.

Do talk to your fellow white person

If you see another white visitor or expat do something considered racist or make a racist remark, dare to call him or her out on it. You allowing that person to get away with such behavior makes you an accomplice and an enabler.

In Conclusion

Just remember that while we might have a different skin tone, we all bleed the same and we are all here trying to make the best of this game called life.

I don’t consider traveling a luxury but a necessity. It opens your eyes to other cultures and different ways of life, and that, on its own is a beautiful thing.

The Caribbean culture is diverse, rich, so deeply rooted in traditions. It’s beautiful. You should try to see it from a different angle other than with your nose pressed against the window of an air-conditioned tourbus. Instead of complaining about something you do not agree with because it is so different from your way of life, try to learn why it is that things function in a certain way here. Your way of life might be great but so is ours.

I believe that racism is based on pure ignorance and fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of whatever is different than us. Change your view and perception. Get over that fear and get to know the person or persons you are so afraid of. You might just discover something truly magical there.

The "Dare I Write This Story?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Snow had already covered our back deck making it impossible for the birds and squirrels to find needed feed.  Inside I was getting antsy for something to do other than go out and shovel the mess, so I opened the top of our antique desk we have in our dining room and began to explore the many items we have placed in it over our married lifetime together.  One item popped up that I had remembered from my childhood.  

My old children's book with my favorite fairy tales.

The children's book titled "A PATCH-WORK QUILT of FAVORITE TALES", with its tattered edges, drew my attention.  The book held a copyright of MCMXXXIII (1933) by M. A. Donohue & Co. and was printed in the United States of America.  The initial paragraph began with "A patchwork quilt of favorite tales is dedicated to every boy and girl.  As I read the opening paragraph I was shocked.  It began with: This little book, like the story-tellers of old, brings you tales of the adventures of children and of our four-footed friends, in the garden barnyard and forest.  It tells the story of lovable Peter Rabbit and his thrilling experiences in the garden with Mr. McGregor; of Little Black Sambo and his incident with the tigers who nearly took his new clothes; Whoa!  Wait, what did I just read?  My mom and dad, as well as my grandmother, read this to me and my brother many times based on the condition of the cover of the book.  

Explanation of the book.  Click to enlarge.

I opened the book to page 17 and there was a drawing of a small black child holding an umbrella with Little Black Sambo spelled out on the bottom right of the page.  The entire eight page illustrated story featured Little Black Sambo in his pretty clothes with a beautiful green umbrella as he visited the forest where four tigers took his clothes and umbrella from him.  They were jealous of each other and grabbed each others tails and chased each other around a tree.  They turned into a pool of butter which Sambo took home so his mother could make pancakes for his family.  His mother, father and he all had yellow pancakes, the color of the tigers.  Little Black Sambo ate a hundred and sixty-nine, because he was so hungry.  I do remember listening to this fairy tale many times long ago, along with all the other stories in the book.  Did my parents know that the book was extremely racist?  I'm not sure and can never ask them now.  

The beginning of the book.

I do know that my dad had several African American friends and took me to play baseball at the other end of town where I was one of four or five white children on the team.  He would go through the black neighborhood before each game picking up my team members in our big station wagon.  My coach, one of dad's friends, was black.  Mom and dad never talked about the difference of color and therefore I though it to be normal.  When I began to coach, I went back to the same neighborhood to recruit players for the team.  To this day I too have African American friends who I see all the time.  But I, like you, have heard, and perhaps experienced, the many problems in our society today related to race.  But, opening up my old book today really opened my eyes, for you see after I "Googled" the fairy tale to find how much my book might be worth and read all the comments about it, I was amazed.  

The beginning of the eight pages of Little Black Sambo.

The children's book was written and illustrated by Scottish author Helen Bannerman in 1899.  The book was an immediate success in England and was published in the United States the following year.  It's success led to many imitations of it which used vulgar pictures and words which were symbolic of black-white relations.  The book's popularity coincided with the crystallization of Jim Crow laws.  Blacks were denied basic human rights, discriminated against in the labor force, barred from many public schools and libraries, harassed at voting booths and subjected to physical violence.  Then along comes this fairy tale called Little Black Sambo.  Did Helen Bannerman really mean this book to be racist?  I guess we will never know.  I'm sure my parents didn't think that when they bought me the book of fairy tales.  The book itself didn't cause riots, but it did enter America during a period of strained and harsh race relations.  Therefore, I guess it was another insult in the daily lives of African Americans.  I continued to read more about the fairy tale and found the anti-Little Black Sambo movement started in the 1930s and continued until the 1970s.  Black educators and civil rights leaders tried to get the book banned from public libraries and elementary schools.  In the 1940s and 50s the book was dropped from many lists of "Recommended Books."  By the 1960s the book was seen as a remnant of a racist past.  Then in the mid-1990s the book came back once again into the spotlight with both whites and black rereading the original book.  Was it entertaining?   Both agreed it was, but there was still little agreement as to whether it was racist.  I certainly don't want to cause another debate with my children's book, so it will once again go back in the desk where I found it.  I will not discard it since it is, and will forever be, a piece of American history, be it good or bad.  It was never read to my children or my grandchildren and will remain that way.  Last thing I want is to cause pain and suffering for anyone.  After I am gone, someone will once again find the book and decide for themselves what to do with it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "So How Do You Feel About Sports And Religion?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading another story about athletes and their religion.  I have found quite a few stories in the past couple of weeks that tell of professional athletes and their willingness to tell the story of their faith and how it has influenced their life and the choices they now make.  

Nick Foles and Carson Wentz, Eagles quarterbacks.

As you have probably read if you are a reader of my blog, I am a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.  Not the boisterous and obnoxious fan as many are, but just a plain down-to-earth fan of a great football team.   I loved the way the team fought their way to the Super Bowl through the many injuries and setbacks they endured.  But what impressed me the most were the leaders on the team who quietly talked of not only their football journey, but their spiritual journey.  We all know the story of Nick Foles and the fact that he wants to become a pastor sometime in the near future, but there are many more athletes on the team that also worship the same God that Nick Foles does.  The guy who Nick replaced in the lineup when he went down, Carson Wentz, said that "Faith, to me, is the No. 1 thing in my life.  If Jesus isn't in it, I don't want to be a part of it."  It was reported that the Eagles' Christian faith became "the locker room's binding force" as the team played through injury after injury.  Some of the leaders on the field weren't afraid or embarrassed to talk about their faith and this had to be an influence on others in the locker room.  Sure, some just didn't feel comfortable talking about Jesus, and there may have been a few who didn't care about religion, but for those who did, they felt it was that force that brought the players closer together as a team and as individuals.  They had as much belief in Jesus as they did in their coach, Doug Pederson.  Many teams have Bible study groups, but the Eagles' group seemed to grow throughout the season.  

The baptism of Marcus Johnson before a game.

On October 12th, before the Eagles would take the field against the Carolina Panthers later that evening, Eagle wide receiver Marcus Johnson gathered with a bunch of teammates and friends at the hotel pool to be baptized.  It was so important to him that he posted a photo of his baptism on his Twitter account.  I've played sports most of my life, but have never been exposed to teammates such as were on the Eagles this year.  I have always believed in the Holy Trinity, but what might I have become if I had been a member of the Eagles this year?  

An advertisement for the movie "42"

I also recently read a story about the 2013 movie about Jackie Robinson, the baseball player that broke the color barrier in major league baseball.  The story said that Robinson's faith was integral to his success, but you didn't see any of that if you went  to see the movie.  The filmmakers of the movie "42" were evidently uncomfortable with all this religious stuff and avoided it in the movie.  And, many believe that omitting the role of faith in this story does a serious disservice to history.  Seems that Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey made it clear to Robinson that he wanted someone to be the first African American in the majors "with guts enough not to fight back."  He needed someone who would resist the temptation to retaliate.  If not, they would not succeed in baseball.  Robinson was chosen by the deeply religious Rickey because of his faith and moral character.  He knew Robinson was more than a great athlete.  He could turn the other cheek.  

First African American to play in the Major Leagues. Jackie
Robinson, the Hall Of Fame player, broke the color barrier
in 1947.  His faith was a major reason for his success.

It was said that there were many nights during his first couple of years that he got down on his knees asking for strength from God.  Seems that the filmmakers of "42" were uncomfor- table with all this so they just avoided putting it in the film.  Faith had always played a big part in Jackie Robinson's life.  Couldn't they see how much more powerful the movie could have been had they included this in the film?  I'm sorry to say that much of the abuse Jackie Robinson had to endure was at the hands of my favorite Philadelphia baseball club, the Phillies.  The name calling and taunting he had to endure were tremendous.  Only after realizing this do you truly understand how special Jackie Robinson really was.  Religion will always be a part of sports.  Some wish it weren't true, but it's bound to be part of sports as much as religion is part of life.  So, should we embrace it or not.  I guess it is up to each and every one of us to decide for ourselves.  I believe you know how I feel, but do you know how you feel?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Episcopal Churches Struggle With Social Problems" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading that the Episcopalians, which I count myself as one, are struggling with historical Confederate symbols.  So what else is new.  

A tombstone in the church's graveyard.

Seems that all that has been happened recently in the USA with towns, cities and states in the south, as well as north, deciding to remove Confederate flags and sculptures has led to debates as to what to do with tombstones and emblems that dot Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina.  Many churches in the south date back to the Civil War times and beyond and have found themselves on the side of the pro-slavery South when their sons marched off to war.  After the war ended, so did slavery, but it seems racism didn't.  So, what to do about the tombstones, flags, monuments and Confederate emblems that still remain at the churches.  Trinity Episcopal Cathedral prayed for the president of the Confederacy, and not the Union, during the Civil War.  They had built an attachment to this national identity into their church and church doctrines.  And now, they are wrestling Confederate ghosts and what to do with them.  Seems the South's General Wade Hampton and its poet laureate, Henry Timrod were members of the church and were buried on the parish's grounds.  To top that off, a plaque in its sanctuary honors members who died in the Civil War.  These members more than likely fought for the Confederacy.  At present they do not allow any Confederate flags to be flown in the church yard, but what do you do with the tombstones?  The minister at the church, Very Rev. Dean Timothy Jones, said, "I care deeply about how historical symbols can create hurt and communicate a message of discrimination.  We believe in redressing the terrible wrongs of slavery and affirming the dignity of every human being."  The national Episcopal Church called for removal of Confederate flags from all Episcopal church yards as well as removal of the images from iconography, like plaques and stained-glass windows.  The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. is Episcopalian and has announced plans to remove Confederate battle flags from two windows honoring Confederate generals Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson.  The windows were to be removed and stored until a future decision on their future was made.  St. Paul's Episcopal in Richmond, Virginia was the home church of Robert E. Lee as well as Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy.  During the 1890s it was popular to memorialize family members with sanctuary wall plaques and naturally there are several in the church with battle flags as part of them.  They also have kneelers with needlepoint that display Confederate symbols and flags.  These as well as the church coat of arms was retired.  In the northern city of Cincinnati, Ohio there are a pair of stained-glass memorials to Lee and Episcopal Bishop Lionidas Polk who served as a Confederate General.  At present they are considering what to do about them. In Lexington, Virginia the R.E. Lee Episcopal Church, voted to change their name in 2015.  Confederate emblems and icons have their defenders who speak to an indispensable episode of American history.  

Plaque standing in the churchyard in North East, MD.

But they may be ultimately defeated.  There are also many other denomin- ations that are now going through the same problems at present.  Removing plaques and flags seems to be what most are doing.  Someone wondered why it took the murder of nine black people in a Bible study class in an African-American parish in Charleston, South Carolina to force this all to happen.  

This flag no longer flies in the churchyard.

A few years ago I wrote about an Episcopal Church in North East, Maryland called St. Mary Ann's Church.  It was built in 1742 and was one of the oldest churches in Cecil County, MD.  As I wandered about the graveyard I noticed Confederate flags flying on quite a few graves.  On a recent visit to the town for a good crabcake at Woody's, I stopped once again and found they have all been removed.  Some things are hard to understand why they were done in the first place, but they seem to always work out for the best.  After all, we're all Americans.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "'Race' Is Much More Than A Movie" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The movie just finished and Carol and I, along with our friends Jerry and Just Sue, are heading out of the movie theatre in State College, Pennsylvania.  The same movie theatre that we walked from in late summer of 2009.  Wasn't long afterwards that "Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy" began.  The movie that led to my blog fixation was "Julie & Julia" which told the story of Julia Child and her start in the cooking profession which becomes intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.  Well, that movie was very memorable and I must admit that today's movie left me with many of the same feelings as that movie six years ago.  

"Race" is the story of a man who showed that the son of a sharecropper and the grandson of a slave could become the fastest man on Earth.  It was President George H.W. Bush who said in his posthumous presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Jesse Owens in March in 1990 that it was an unrivaled athletic triumph, but it was more than that, it really was a triumph for all humanity.  Then I got to wondering why it took over 44 years before Jesse Owens was honored in Washington, D.C. by the President of the United States; and then it was after he died!  The answer is: Jesse Owens was a black man!  There can be no other answer.  I guess I should tell you at this point that maybe if you haven't seen the movie, and plan to go to view it, you may not want to read the rest of my story, for it may ruin the ending for you.  That being said, I was extremely moved by the film which featured Stephan James as Jesse and Jason Sudeikis as his college coach and loyal friend, Larry Snyder.  

Jesse Owens competing in the broad jump.

The majority of the filming took place in Montreal, Canada as well as on location at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.  The film opens in the fall of 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio as Jesse prepares to head to Ohio State University where he meets coach Snyder for the first time.  Jesse leaves behind his sweetheart and mother of his child.  Coach Snyder sees the potential in his new recruit and pushes him to new heights culminating in his winning the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds, tying the world record.  He also set world records in three other events at the 1935 Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The mixture of black and white scenes with the color scenes made for a seemless representation of old to new and then back again.  
In 1936, at the Olympics held in Germany, his four gold medals proves to be a blow to the Nazis.  Hitler's superiority German "Aryan" race takes a back seat.  The film shows the divide that existed among the United States olympic officials who wanted to compete and those who wanted to boycott the games in protest Hitler's treatment of Jews, blacks and other oppressed under his rule.  

The real Jesse Owens with wife Minnie.

The love story between Jesse and his sweetheart- /wife winds throughout the movie and draws you into the lives of the Owens family.  Perhaps the scene that was the most emotional for the theatre-goers, was when Jesse returned to the U.S. after winning his record four gold medals and was to be the guest of honor at a Manhattan banquet and told he and his wife would have to enter through the hotel's kitchen and use the service elevator because he was black.  I believe, for many black Americans, it is still the same today.  I'm positive the reaction of the white crowd at the movie today would be entirely different had it been a black crowd.  And, I don't believe that 8 years of having a black President has changed much as far as race relations are concerned.  The movie "Race" was essentially a true story.  But, "Race" is more than a movie.  "Race" was an emotion.  "Race" was black and white.  So sad to have to type that!  But, it's the truth and easy to see.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Jesse and Minnie had three daughters who are still all living.  Parade magazine did an cover photo, article and video with the three sisters.  I have included the YouTube video showing the interview.


Postscript:  As I left the movie I leaned toward my wife and said, "If you remember, after the last movie here I was inspired to start my blog.  Well, after this movie I think I'm going to begin to broadjump."  She looked at me and laughed .... real loud, and said, "Yeah, right!!"