The View of a King

By Don Rittner

Last week we celebrated the contributions of Martin Luther King. As I watched TV’s talking heads give their opinions on the subject of racism, it made me think about my own experience.

I don’t believe anyone is born a racist - it’s something you learn. It has nothing to do with intelligence. I know plenty of “intelligent” racists. To hate people because of skin color has no logic to it, and I surmise that much of what we call racism is more of a leftover evolution based on fighting for survival as small hunting and gathering bands than anything else. Let’s face it, if you don’t belong to the same gang, you’re feared, or so it seems.

I thought that the recent results of the Human Genome Project would have put racists out of business by now. Those findings revealed that we all share over 98% of our genes with apes, or to put it another way, what color you are doesn’t matter – we all belong to the same genetic pot.

Racism is a product of fear. If you don’t look, talk, and act like me, you’re different, and therefore a threat. History has shown that plenty of groups and individuals have attempted many ways to eradicate those that don’t act or look like them. Ethnic cleaning, eugenics, slavery, and gas chambers are only a few of these unthinkable means.

I don’t know when racism began. Maybe it was the first band of Cro-Magnums seeing a band of Neanderthals – they “looked” different enough. Today there is no rhyme or reason for racism. We know that any particular member of any particular race can become educated, or succeed in any sport, business, or other endeavor. They can become financially successful, own the same big house, drive the same fancy car, and can be as civil, or not, as the next person. In essence, everyone of every race can do every thing the other can do. Yet, racism still exists?

Growing up in Troy put me in touch with Blacks, Irish, Italians, Germans, Jews, you name it. Troy was a very diverse city when I was young. If I had issues with my peers it was based on a one to one confrontation. I never felt that I was having problems with the African American “race,” or the population of Italy. If I had a problem with Kid X, it was with that individual.

I remember when King delivered “I have a Dream” in 1963. I was barely a teenager, but when I saw the news clips of dogs biting women, kids and adults being thrown around by water cannons and beaten, I knew there was something terribly wrong with my country.

They say experience is the best teacher. In 1966, I was confronted with a situation that changed my life. My friend Lenny and I decided to hitchhike to Florida. After selling two cameras at Williams’ Pawn Shop, we took our $30 and stuck our thumbs out.

Most of the drivers who gave us rides were truck drivers. As we worked our way down US Route 1, and just over the South Carolina border, a black truck driver picked us up. We called him Sammy because he looked like Sammy Davis Jr. and for the next few hours we got to know each other. He insisted on feeding us (we were broke way before South Carolina) and pulled into a truck stop.

Sammy told us to go in and he would meet us. I insisted we all go in together. He chuckled and told us again to go in. I didn’t understand his hesitancy and so in a stern voice (for a 16 year old) said no, we would all go in as a team.

I’ll never forget the three simple words he uttered. Looking rather stern, he said, “boy, look up.” I did, and above the entrance to the truck stop was a sign that said, “White Entrance Only.” I looked over to the right and saw a small run down shack (toilet). It too had a sign that said, “Colored Only.”

I looked at Sammy and insisted it wasn’t real. He assured it was and that if we ALL went in together, chances are we would not walk out - he meant that literally.

Slavery was introduced into America in the early 17th century. Here were the remnants, I thought. As I turned my attention back to the talking heads on TV, they were bragging about all the progress civilization has made since King delivered his ’63 speech.

Progress? Humans are the only species on this planet that have bound and sold their own kind as chattel. Not even an ant treats its own kind that way.