When: September 1958
Where: Downtown Salisbury North Carolina
Who: 2 freshmen college guys walking down the sidewalk –coming towards them on the
sidewalk – 2 young black men
What happened: the black men walked off the sidewalk on to the street
What else – the Greyhound bus station has a water fountain for “whites only
Forward – WHAT A DIFFERENCE A GENERATION MAKES:
Where – Beaufort South Carolina
Who- Young professionals enjoying the beauty of the river walk and nearby restaurants:
- Mixed race couples strolling comfortably- no stares or comments targeting them
What – Upscale book store in Beaufort – Sizable collection of non fiction publications:
Section on American History includes – Civil War – not “ WAR BETWEEN THE STATES:
- Catholic Church in Hilton Head South Carolina – One of the Eucharistic Ministers is
African American
Amazing changes in a generation.
Even more amazing is the reinforcement of the value of travel, interaction with those
outside of the cocoon in which we live and work. Contrary to a popular bromide- “ people are
not all alike. We do not have the same values, evolve from the same culture, carry forth the
same belief systems. Thank Goodness. Diversity is complex, indeed fascinating and
a generator of the kalidescope of imagery found in the classic photo montage book “ The Family
of Man”.
Southerners have a wonderful habit of saying hello, or giving a smile and a nod to all
those who cross their paths. Skeptically I wondered if this was a sincere greeting or
merely a habit. The greeting is truly an invitation to pause, take a moment, pass the time
of day.. and most significantly .. to establish a dialogue. What a gift if we take advantage
of this outstretched hand.
Social media and mass news networks are invaluable sources of information. Emails are a
short hand method of conversation.
What do these conveyors have in common? They are void of emotion and eyeball contact.
There is an absence of rubbing elbows, face to face contact, observing others, and
actual conversation. Evaluations, perceptions, testing realities versus perceptions through
the eyes of third parties are filtered with the history and biases of the messenger.
What is missing is the honest, guttural, in your face feedback that comes with
conversational dialogue. It is easy and convenient to hide behind keystrokes and edited
video images.
Today’s challenge is to take a risk.. Talk with ( as compared to) a stranger OR someone whom
you have a tenuous relationship.
Reflect and enjoy – examine who you are, what you think, and where you came from. Let the
Journey begin. A new world awaits you .
rlhassociates 