The Voice - Student Newspaper

Segregation; an unfathomable idea for most Gen-X'ers

Being an Arizona native, I go swimming at least 75 times a year.

Drinking fountains and the precious water thereof are necessities I take advantage of on a near-daily basis. Bathroom breaks are not only mandatory, but at times a welcome relief from boring classes. I've taken my fair share of bus rides.

In all my 25 years' experience with the aforementioned aspects of society, I've never known what it's like to see them divided or restricted on the basis of color.

That's both a good thing and a bad thing.

I'm grateful segregation wasn't around to dilute my relations with blacks I knew both generally and personally.

I idolized Michael Jordan and Kevin Johnson as a kid. I have now and have had in the past black co-workers. Their privileges or opportunities (at least, in those specific places of employment) were never any less than mine.

I do regret one aspect of not having a personal experience with blatant segregation and/or racism: it's impossible for me to respect what the black community as a people has fought and, for the most part, prevailed against.

Granted, racism still exists, and may exist until humanity is no longer in existence. But I am thankful and proud of the fact that I don't have to do a double-take when I see a sign that says "No Blacks," or "Whites Only," or hear the bus driver tell a black man or woman to move to the back, knowing it's because I boarded the bus.

What I try even harder to comprehend is how a mere 50 years ago no one would have done a double-take.

Open segregation was not just allowed; it was a part of life. Whites accepted it as right, and blacks submitted (willingly or not) to it. That was the way things were. I can't even imagine that.

I interviewed those who do, though. One such interview left me enlightened, humbled, and honestly, a little as if I'd been slapped in the face.

Richard Watts, 52, told about how his dad took him to a YMCA pool when he was about seven years old. The sign on the fence said, "No Colors Allowed." That was in Avondale, AZ.

Again, growing up in central Phoenix, I'd have been surprised if there weren't any blacks, Mexicans, or other minorities at a YMCA pool.

To me, that's the way things are, and what's more, the way they're supposed to be.

Please send comments to mnpetersen@gccvoice.com