I love Dr. Ricky Jones. He brings passion to everything he does in life. He's black. I'm white. Neither one of us can totally grasp the other's challenges but our pigmentation certainly affords me an advantage in life. I can't fully change the trajectory of anyone's life; that's up to every person walking this earth. The one thing I can do is listen. And I do. During today's Ricky Jones radio appearance, a hateful person phoned my producer to declare that Ricky is an f-ing n-word. And this, my friends, is the crux of our societal woes. Racists slinging epithets instead of listening. A majority of people of all colors won't listen to anyone who doesn't
Tag: bill stokes
Bill Stokes, my brother from another mother
William Albert "Bill" Stokes died last week. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Seven years ago, he taught me one of the most enlightening, compassionate lessons of my life at a moment when I was way out of my comfort zone. The day after he and I co-hosted a mostly improvisational show in front of an African American audience, I wrote this blog post. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. ----------------- BACK IN BLACK I have always had an affinity for African American people. Their music always moved me more than the bland songs sung by white performers. Their distinctly different clothing choices made me want to be colorful like them instead of rigid and uniform
Dropped into the midst of Black Privilege
I have always had an affinity for African American people. Their music always moved me more than the bland songs sung by white performers. Their distinctly different clothing choices made me want to be colorful like them instead of rigid and uniform like all of the white kids. In high school in the 70s I had a crush on Clemmie, a pretty black girl who never gave me the time of day. After school, I worked in the kitchen at the old Baptist Hospital and was treated like a brother by the mostly black staff. Even as a young kid, I envied African Americans for their spiritual freedom. I felt like people of color seemed to have more animated, joyous reactions to