"Whites Only"

[loopychew]

Dad just sent me a small piece he wrote about Trent Lott's statement last week, and I thought I'd share it here. This is the man whose writing skills I hope to surpass someday.

The Forgotten
12/17/02

I remember.

Vaguely. But, I remember. The forgotten.

In the early 1960's, I remember my father taking us to the local department
store. It was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With my limited English, after all, I
was only twelve and we'd just immigrated to the US, it took me a long time
to comprehend and with my limited social awareness it took me a long time to
understand. Finally, I understood.

"Whites Only"

Such a simple phrase with only two words. But, how much hurt, how much
hate were behind these words. Words, after all, hurt much, much more than
sticks and stones. Words cut to the soul.

I read those same words again last week. I did not recognize them at first
because they were hidden behind other words. Words that obfuscated. Words
that were coded. Words that were long forgotten.

"Whites Only"

You are not like us. You are not as good as us. You could not use these
toilets or drink from this water fountain as we do. You are nothing.

Two words.

I asked Dad, "Am I White?" Which restroom should I use? Which fountain
should I drink from?

I did not realize it back then. I was much too young. It could have been a
life or death decision. If I were allowed to drink from that fountain or
use that restroom, I would not have to worry about being hanged from a tree
somewhere. I would not have to worry about being treated like an animal.
But, what if I did drink from that fountain and use that restroom when even
one person did not think I was White enough? The world was simple then.
Black or White. What was I? Choose!

But, was it my choice?

If the Dixiecrats had won the election back in 1948, the year before I was
born. Which fountain and which restroom would I have had to go to?

You figure that out.

What did Lott say when his words were to be translated?

"Whites Only!"