One day after the President paid a visit to Shaker Heights High School, we share the ruminations of Scene contributor Ted Schwarz, who grew up in Shaker and recalls a time when a black man on the school’s front steps would have given few pause to cheer …
“There’s a little colored girl coming to Ludlow,” our teacher solemnly told us. I was around 9 years old at the time, and I remember thinking there was a nervous sadness as she spoke. “What do you children think about that?”
This article appears in Jan 4-10, 2012.
I am astonished at racism. It just never occurs to me. To read your article, especially where you had the two bowls of candy – I seriously was trying to understand “why would there be two bowls of candy?” – is eye opening. I don’t know whether my being astonished at the idea is good or is it turning a blind eye? I have a bi-racial (black & white) brother. I’ve never seen him as any color than “my brother”.
Thank you. I too remember a lot of racism against many people.
When I was young I thought my uncle called me “mick” because
my last name started with Mc.. he would smile and call “Hey Mick”.
He had nick names for all of the people. I’m so glad I do not look
at people that way.