Tristan McCray's Blog
Thoughts, in 3 parts. / 03.31.09, 12:47 PM
Part I
This past weekend I was able to help out with the Recovery School District “All Star” Marching Band. This consisted of kids from about eight different schools in the city all coming together in one location, which happened to be Carver, where I volunteer. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared there would be some fights breaking out, etc. – rivalries run pretty high between the schools – and the purpose for the band was to play at a rally against violence in the city. They were charged with playing the National Anthem and a couple pop tunes to entertain the crowd at the rally. The kids gathered, coming in slowly after school, growing to about 140 all told. That is the most people of color I have been around by myself, being the only white guy at the practice.
I mention this because I think it is something I struggled with at the beginning of the year, if only because it hadn’t happened very often (if at all) and I didn’t know how to react. I now know how to react – be myself. I can’t know everybody’s thoughts on whites and they can’t know mine about them, but I have found that in most all of my interactions I have been accepted with handshakes and treated with respect, so I return the same.
It’s often said it’s not good to be colorblind and ignore the racism of our country, and I agree, but I also think there are ways that being colorblind is a good thing. For example, on of the first ways I might describe Mr. Lewis, the band director, to someone now would be ‘cares about the kids’ rather than ‘black’. It may seem like a minor thing, but now that I have become ‘disenchanted’, perhaps, with the color of a person’s skin, I can become enchanted with the person himself. I strongly think this has only been possible by being placed in the minority so much this year and being forced to think about race and racism. If we never experience anything different than what we are used to, we wouldn’t be able to grow and learn.
Part II
The rally the kids played at, called “Yes We Care,” was organized by local black clergy and community groups who wanted to take a stand against all the violence of the city and show the faces that it affects: the grieving mothers and the mourning siblings. One of their biggest pushes was for everyone to sign a contract of sorts, pledging not to take another African-American’s life. An underlying goal was to bring back a sense of ‘togetherness’ in the black community by bringing together a large number of people for support and encouragement.
I must say, that although things like that are scary to think about, I haven’t ever felt in danger while I’ve been down here. Part of it may be that the area we live in isn’t too populated so we are away from all the sirens of the night, etc. We also don’t know anyone who was directly affected by any sort of violence beyond car theft (yet…). I admit, I am worried sometimes, or perhaps just apprehensive, but I am never scared.
Part III
I’m not sure what the purpose of this particular blog is. It could be I wanted to tell you about the violence and the strides people are making against it. It wasn’t to scare you, no, I am safe. It could have been to show you something I get to do because of my relationship with the band. It might be to get you thinking about race and racism. Perhaps it may get you to attend some sort of rally in your city soon. Whatever affects this post has on you, these are things that happen to me and things that I think about and am faced with every day.
Peace be with you.
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“If we never experience anything different than what we are used to, we wouldn’t be able to grow and learn” – That is so true. That’s a good reminder that I shouldn’t get caught up in my day-to-day activities. Only when I choose to pull myself out of the habitual life of self-centeredness, will I be able to see the lessons and opportunities for growth that the world has to offer. Thanks for that!
By M.Kimmy / Apr 2, 10:35 PM / #
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Ann
http://racingonlinegames.net
By Ann / Apr 5, 09:44 AM / #
I feel ya man. I usually don’t really feel afraid when I go out too. But the other day I WAS a bit scared when waiting for the bus on Broad at like 11:30. But yeah. IDK why I mentioned that. Crazy stuff.
By Zack Attack / Apr 20, 07:58 PM / #
hey tristan! i was actually in chicago last weekend doing the one day gathering there, and was looking for the blogs of some of the people i met. i began looking at the names of the other people, and your name popped out. i know we didn’t really talk much at houghton, but i hope you’re doing well and learning a lot from your time in new orleans. hopefully i’ll be in chicago in the fall…any advice?
have a great day!
By sarah wiant / Apr 23, 09:50 AM / #