08-31-2003, 01:43 PM
He was a big man, his skin was as black as ice on the highway and it glistened the same way in the sunâ¦.his nickname was Mandingo and he wore that name with pride. He fell in love when he was in his teens and married a woman of European heritage. Her skin although not white would pale next to his even when she had a tan. Twenty years later they were still happily in love even through all the strife that all interracial couples suffered through the 70âs and 80âs. They had three children the two eldest were daughters, the youngest a son who look much like his daddy. I met this family when I was in my teensâ¦I was the same age as the second daughter and we became good friends in no time. On our way to becoming best friends we shared many stories and personal hardships with each other. Her eldest sister looked much like her mom, long straight brown hair and an olive complexion. My friend processed a combination of both her parentsâ features. Her frame was small like her mothers and her skin was light â¦she teased that it was âpecan tanâ but her hair and her facial features left no doubt that Mandingo was her father. I never thought much about it until one day when I found her in tears. She told me she didnât feel like she belonged and that she was tired of not being âwhiteâ like her sister. I know her sister didnât mean to hurt her so badlyâ¦sisters pick on each other that is part of growing up in a familyâ¦but the things she said hurt my friend deeplyâ¦she teased about her âflat noseâ and about her ânappy hairâ. It was hard enough going to school where even though she was a pretty girl and very âcoolâ, she couldnât seem to find a boyfriend.. black guys thought she was too white and white guys thought she was too black. The things people would say under their breaths just loud enough for her to hear finally took their tollâ¦..a person can only take so much âteasingâ before it destroys them.
Ok I was going to make this a story but I am not very good at creative writing and it hurts to bring it all back upâ¦so let me just sayâ¦
I have known 3 people in my life that have committed suicideâ¦..and while you may say they were unstable and should have received helpâ¦.and I will agree with you to a pointâ¦2 of these people decided that they didnât deserve to live only after habitual harassment from âfriendsâ, family and peers. The other one was a wonderful, bright extremely gifted man who was openly ###### in the early 80sâ¦it may not be easy now but it was harder back then. We lived in a small town where most people were not very forgiving of people with âdifferentâ lifestyles. I miss these people and wish I could have done something to help them realize their value before others destroyed their souls.
Think about what you say to peopleâ¦you never know just how much your words hurt othersâ¦or where they are in their lives and how your insensitivity may affect them. Point made I hope. I am always open to 'suggestions' for the language filter but some things I will not change.
peace
Ok I was going to make this a story but I am not very good at creative writing and it hurts to bring it all back upâ¦so let me just sayâ¦
I have known 3 people in my life that have committed suicideâ¦..and while you may say they were unstable and should have received helpâ¦.and I will agree with you to a pointâ¦2 of these people decided that they didnât deserve to live only after habitual harassment from âfriendsâ, family and peers. The other one was a wonderful, bright extremely gifted man who was openly ###### in the early 80sâ¦it may not be easy now but it was harder back then. We lived in a small town where most people were not very forgiving of people with âdifferentâ lifestyles. I miss these people and wish I could have done something to help them realize their value before others destroyed their souls.
Think about what you say to peopleâ¦you never know just how much your words hurt othersâ¦or where they are in their lives and how your insensitivity may affect them. Point made I hope. I am always open to 'suggestions' for the language filter but some things I will not change.
peace