Somehow I was not aware that the segregation in the south (in the USA) was
as recent as the 1910s. I thought that Lincoln made things right and
magically, everything changed overnight. I was so wrong. (I hated history
so I never paid attention. I kept waiting for "the point". The "formula",
the solution that would let me condense the lesson to a one-liner. Hey,
this strategy worked in Science, Math, and grammar.)
Anyway, today I heard record exec Ahmet Geuren (sp) of Atlantic Records talk
about signing the legendary Duke Ellington to his label in our nation's
capital, Washington D.C.. Mr. Geuren (sp) said that he wanted to have a
nice long fine dining type of dinner with this musical genius, this hero,
this national treasure. He realized that with Washington's "Jim Crow" laws,
there was NO RESTAURANT IN THE CITY WHERE THEY COULD BE SERVED TOGETHER!!
In Mister Ellington's home town!
So these two wealthy men ate in the only place where they could be seen
together- a diner in a transportation terminal. I forget if it was at a
railroad or a bus terminal. That is disgusting.
***
Then, tonight, in the "Jazz" series, they had a segment about a young white
man (I don't remember his name) who, at the age of 17 witnessed the most
brilliant musician by far in his life.... Louis Armstrong. The young man
reflected that he had been raised to think that (paraphrased)
'Negros (his word) were fine in their place. But standing there, witnessing
this man, this amazingly gifted trumpeter, this *genius*, made me ask
myself, "What exactly is the *place* for a man such as *this*?'
Louis Armstrong made him realize that 'allowing a people their place' was a
lie, a euphemism for restricting a people who should be free.
Here's hoping that we never, ever go the way of segregation again and
properly focus on equal opportunity every day of the new millennium.
Lama
If I could get paid for writing editorials I would have made a lot of money
this weekend.....
