[PanamaKim]

I grew up in SW Louisiana and looking back, there was a lot of racism. Our schools were not integrated until I was in 4th grade (this was in 1969 or 1970 - long after it was mandated by law). My third grade teacher prepared us well, telling us how things would be next year and to make friends with those that looked different from us because we were all the same inside. My paternal grandparents were horrible racists but my maternal grandparents were not. The maternal grandparents had worked along side blacks when they were sharecropping and saw first hand how they were mistreated and always taught us to be kind to all people. Today when I visit family in Louisiana, sometimes I still pick up on racists comments that I don’t think they are even aware of when they are speaking. Yet, I know if they saw a black person in need, they would help. It’s confusing to me. I haven’t lived in the south since I was 19 years old, and I think that has helped me see the racism I grew up with, though I’ve seen it in all places, just not to the degree I find in the south. I’ve have only one black friend and she is from Trinidad, so she didn’t grow up in US. I would like to be close to a black person and hear their thoughts and perspectives. I think we can all. grow and learn moving forward. By the way, a great book I recently read along these lines “Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race and Justice Lost and Found,” by Gilbert King. It is Lake County, Mt. Dora, Traveres and nearby areas. True story of a corrupt sheriff in the late 1950s. Appalling what he got away with. The local libraries carry this book. Curbside pick up these days.