With everything that is going on right now, peaceful protests over George Floyd's death and acts of violence against the community so vile and disgusting, I wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Except that I am not going to talk about what is going on now. I want to talk about some of my mother's experiences as a new immigrant to the United States.
First let me tell you a little about my Mother. She grew up in a small rural hamlet in Eastern New Brunswick Canada. There were two types of families. Those who spoke French and those who spoke English. And of course everyone was white. There was no electricity. Mom often described it as growing up on Little House on the Prairie, partly because that was one of my favorite shows when I was younger. Partly because that was the way it was. School was one room and ended with eighth grade. After that there was a grade nine correspondence course if you wanted. The other option was to go to work. You may be wondering where I am going with this. I promise it will all come together.
By the time my mother immigrated it was in the early 1950s. She came to the US and joined the Women's Army Corps as path to US Citizenship. She was stationed in Washington, D.C. She met a great group of ladies in the WAC and became close friends with them. One day she was walking in D.C. and a man was walking towards her. He got off the sidewalk and waited for her to pass before continuing on his journey back on the sidewalk in the other direction. This action stunned my mother having never seen anything like that happen before. When she returned back to base they explained to her that he was not allowed to be on the sidewalk with her, so he did what he did so he would not break the law. My mother was confused.
Days and weeks blended together as life on the base continued. One night someone was having a gathering off base, I suspect it was in Virginia though I don't know for sure. Mom was excited for the event. She asked her friend why she wasn't ready for the get together. Mom was told that she (her friend) was not allowed to go. Mom's response,"If your not going, I'm not going either." Petit and demure in stature, but mighty and powerful in words and actions.
My mom knew that Black Lives Matter back in the 50s her actions prove that. Now our job is to keep that message going. Educate our children. Lead by example. Change and Evolve.
First let me tell you a little about my Mother. She grew up in a small rural hamlet in Eastern New Brunswick Canada. There were two types of families. Those who spoke French and those who spoke English. And of course everyone was white. There was no electricity. Mom often described it as growing up on Little House on the Prairie, partly because that was one of my favorite shows when I was younger. Partly because that was the way it was. School was one room and ended with eighth grade. After that there was a grade nine correspondence course if you wanted. The other option was to go to work. You may be wondering where I am going with this. I promise it will all come together.
By the time my mother immigrated it was in the early 1950s. She came to the US and joined the Women's Army Corps as path to US Citizenship. She was stationed in Washington, D.C. She met a great group of ladies in the WAC and became close friends with them. One day she was walking in D.C. and a man was walking towards her. He got off the sidewalk and waited for her to pass before continuing on his journey back on the sidewalk in the other direction. This action stunned my mother having never seen anything like that happen before. When she returned back to base they explained to her that he was not allowed to be on the sidewalk with her, so he did what he did so he would not break the law. My mother was confused.
Days and weeks blended together as life on the base continued. One night someone was having a gathering off base, I suspect it was in Virginia though I don't know for sure. Mom was excited for the event. She asked her friend why she wasn't ready for the get together. Mom was told that she (her friend) was not allowed to go. Mom's response,"If your not going, I'm not going either." Petit and demure in stature, but mighty and powerful in words and actions.
My mom knew that Black Lives Matter back in the 50s her actions prove that. Now our job is to keep that message going. Educate our children. Lead by example. Change and Evolve.
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