I was born into an Army family in 1953. It was the Eisenhower years and the military was ahead of the civilian culture with desegregation. By the time I was old enough to walk and talk, that sub-culture was fairly well color blind.
Until the age of ten, I hardly noticed that I was ‘different’. When I did, it was nothing more than a passing curiosity. It was only later in my adolescence that others forced my attention onto my skin color. The world has been doing it ever since, but I couldn’t fixate my identity on race if I tried. I’m just me, and refuse to be a mere hunk of meat.
It was such a pleasure for me to read it.
Leni
I couldn’t fixate my identity on race if I tried. I’m just me, and refuse to be a mere hunk of meat.
Standing ovation.
My good friend who was born in W. Africa to an African father and white American mother feels exactly the way you do, and so do I.