Why I became a Republican

  Why I became a Republican and abandoned my Democrat parents' beliefs,

 I must first tell you where I came from and how I got to where I am now. But stick with me an it will all develop to where life has led me

I was born in the worst February snowstorm of the winter. The doctor could not or would not leave home to help my parents. Dad got in the old car and drove Mom to the hospital. On Main Street in the small town they lived in was the hospital, which required a left-hand turn across 2 lanes of traffic. My mother told me that the snow was blowing so hard that traffic was visible only a very short distance away. My dad turned his car and made it halfway across those two lanes. An oncoming U.S. mail truck hit my mother's side, the rider's side of an American car. It lifted the car and turned it on its side, pinning the driver's side under it. It threw my mom onto the dashboard under the steering wheel.

Dad somehow managed to get free and climb out of the rider's side door. The Mail Truck driver was very angry and was going to fight with my dad till he found out my mom was about to give birth to me. He helped dad get her out of the car and carried mom into the hospital through the blizzard.

The RN on duty was Mrs. Lincoln. My dad worked with her husband, and later that year, I saw their son become a basketball player at our high school. Was a good kid, though I was not on teams, so our activities were rarely together.

I got good marks and finished all but 3 mandatory subjects in my first 3years of high school. My guidance counselorwas interested in getting me into a computer keypunch school for children who showed promise.

I started the following Year in my senior year of high school. My dad drove me 60 miles round-trip to school 5 days a week. It was 1971, and the Black folks were protesting with Vietnam demonstrators in the city streets. beating on cars, attacking folks, and occasionally setting fires and getting into fights with passersby.All in peaceful protests, though.

On my first day of class, 4 young men, not much older than me, stood up, raised their clenched fists, and yelled, "Black power." The classroom was made up of Black and Hispanic students from all over the world. I was the only White in the class. These guys demanded that I be removed from the school, or they would leave. The teacher asked them why. They said bluntly that the white boy wasnt allowed in a class for blacks. The teacher told him that 

She quietly told them our ages were the same and that my school and parents had paid for me to be there. His classes were government-funded, and his actions could get him tossed. The Leader, who seemed to be the boss, yelled that he wasn't going to be in the same room with a F..ing white boy. She told him that was definitely one on you, you're speaking and acting like a child. He cussed her out and took his 4 followers out. I went on to teach and assist the Trinidadian lady who was working hard to pass her courses. Her name was Berl

She watched as my marks were much higher than those of the others in the class. Better schools and better education. But my parents, who both held 1-3 jobs to support a family of 7, consistently, as well as the older kids and my Republican Grandpa, were helping out.

Berl walked over and began talking to me. She asked me if I would help her with a class assignment. No one had spoken to me in many days. She told me she was married and had 2 children back home on the Island. She said, "If you help us pass."Help me pass, and I will help you with the unfriendly atmosphere you're getting. Deal? I was glad to help and told her I only needed to be asked. The class went smoothly, and I got to know most of those who were not still closed-minded. Berl and I graduated at the top of our class. She was smart and caught on fast. I have not seen her in 50 years, but I think she did well when she went home. I pray she did. The black-beanie group missed their education and probably ended up in prison.

What they didn't know was that the RN, Mrs. Lincoln, was the first face I ever saw. She brought me into this world and was the first face I ever saw. The first hands that held me up made me breathe and fight to live. She was a newborn's first glimpse of humanity. Ms. Lincoln was Black. I thank God that she didn't feel that sickness within her heart when my life was in her hands.

I lived in a predominantly Caucasian community growing up. I heard very unkind comments growing up.  thought as I do for the moment that we all bleed red blood regardless of my exterior. So you can imagine the culture shock of a kid my age calling me "boy." Something, not in my mind, about either of us. I had just gotten my invitation to train to kill people I never knew and would never meet. My Draft Card!

I passed my courses and graduated. Berl n hugged me, saying thank you for helping me get home. That hug was no different from anyother friend I had known. She was a very nice Lady. Hope she is home and took over the company she worked for.

Years go by, and I take some time off from my CDL driving job to work in a canning factory for the summer. I needed a break between leasing my rigs and buying my rig. I worked next to a young man who I thought was my friend. We were as aware as I was concerned. His dream was to become a Baptist minister. But he didn't have a driver's license. For weeks, James grieved that he truly wished he knew someone who could teach him to drive so he could get his lessons and maybe go to further schooling.

I had spare time and volunteered to teach him if he thought he could drive my Lincoln Continental. He did just fine. Took a wee 'nd he got his license in someone else's car at work while I was busy that day. James showed up on Monday, driving an old VW-style van. 

He told me that day he was preaching for his church and was nervous. I said, James, I can come and support you. You can't do that, he said. I was taken aback and said, " Why can I sit way back in the pews if I make you nervous.

He finally said, "You're not allowed in my church..."It's a Baptist church, and you can't be there. It's a black Baptist church, and you're not allowed. Sorry, but they would kick me out of the church. I told him that a while back, I taught Sunday school. I had been taught God made all his children, and he should make his sermon on that.

More years go by, back on the road again, got my own company and my own tractor-trailer rig. hauling in Arizona, it's 2A.M. I'm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  start up from the off-ramp, stop at the light,e and a piston goes through my engine's top side. I grab a U-Haul and return to Texas, where my rig was bought. The engine was defective, and I was reimbursed cost me nothing.

I got back to Texarcana to grab another tractor. met up with Cleatus, who happened to be there too. Cleatus drove the pickup to return the U-Haul with me. The counter guy took my key, printed out the receipt, and said, "Your boy clean out the back of the U-Haul?" I said MY BOY? Cleatus just looked at me and said nothing. I looked t the counter guy and said This man is my freind not my boy. He said, "Sorry, where are you from? I said New York," and I was brought up better than that. It was very quiet. I said I was sorry it happened as we rode back in the pickup. Cleatus just said. It happens!

We went to dinner in his cab just up the road. Same as any of the guys always did when we ran into each other from time to time. had a good dinner and went to the mall to shop. We got the company to pick up this time. Nowhere to park a tractor. walked through the mall and grabbed the supplies I needed. Cleatus did the same. 

A group of guys walked through. They were black like Cleatus. He walked over, and they appeared to be arguing with him and staring at me, 6 guys walked back and handed me the keys to the truck. Said the guys are going clubbing, you can't go. I told hi dont worry, I don't hang out in clubs. Well, you can't because it's for black folks only. I grinned as the U-Haul counter man's last remark went by my ears as I walked out the door. Hope you don't find out you're wrong in your thinking.

Cleatus never spoke to me again, only giving one-word replies.

Flash forward to the present. I'm at a bus stop, getting off to walk home. A tall man with his hands full of several bags fumbles his bags of groceries, and numerous packaged items fall to the ground. I bend, grab a cottage cheese container, and go out to put it back in his bag.

He snatches it out of my hand and says angrily, repeating, " Don't you ever touch my food,numerous times. wondered if he was a germaphobe til he climbed back on the bus, where his other black friends were cheering him on about a white guy touching his food. NOT helping him, touching his package. You know, like the dozen people who had done it before he got it. But the laughter and comments when he stepped inside made me realize the error of my heart and thoughts.

There have been many ties in between these that I have forgiven as the ignorance of individuals. But it's something much deeper than that. People like me can no longer turn a blind eye to this one-sided situation.

I saw the KKK rally in Texas years ago and new some one who was an active member. He told me he forgave me for my Yankee Religion and felt sorry for me on the day I learned the error of my thinking. As an Ordained minister, I have always believed those Christians who were able to fight and kill the lions in the Roman arena but nelt and allowed themselves to be torn apart while the stadium cheered were fools. The Bible states, "God helps him who helps himself." God give me strength. I need to find something between the mental midgets and blind idiots. 

But for those who still believe God made us in his own image. God has no specific color, because they are all his. God bless and eep you till next time, folks. keep love in your heart even when no one else does.

Till next time,

RJP