Hi All,
Given recent circumstances in our country, I felt the need to take a time out from math and share instead some thoughts about brotherhood. Which for me (and safe to say, the Bible) is the opposite of racism and division.
Growing up I most often felt real, genuine brotherhood with people of different races when we were all working together on something. It might have been a play, or in Boy Scouts camping, or a service project, or in a class. However, I felt it mostly strongly in sports. I decided to write about that experience in a young adult book called REBOUND.
The book was originally called BLACK AND WHITE, but in the last months before publication another book called BLACK AND WHITE came out, so we had to come up with a new title.
I wanted to call my book BLACK AND WHITE, not only because the story centers on a high school basketball team with a mix of black and white players and their conflicts, but also because my personal experience with racism was that it was most often not a clear cut or black and white issue.
In part I was reacting to books written for teens (and adults) that oversimplified things. The racist characters depicted in these stories always seemed to be totally and completely evil. They were racists, they were mean, they were lawbreakers, they kicked dogs, etc. They were easy to hate.
My own real experience with racism was that people I knew who were kind, loving to their families, law-abiding, and church-going, could also be racists. On the other hand, there were also people who talked like they were racists in certain company, but in action demonstrated love and compassion for other races. Meanwhile some folks who talked a good game about brotherhood, were far from it in action. It was not just all black and white. There were a lot of shades of gray.
I chose to write in a sports context because when we play a sport we often get to see people as they really are. Truth comes out. Decisions are made. Action is required. Not just talk.
In REBOUND, I had a coach character who tries to bring his team together and overcome racist actions on both sides of the aisle through his actions and words. Here is an excerpt from a speech he gives in the locker room after a racial incident in the stands at a game. He shares a quote from American poet, Stephen Vincent Benet. Here's the passage:
Coach T. walks slowly to the center of the room and folds his arms. "One last thing then. I'd like to read you a quote. Sort of a prayer, if you don't mind. I think it's appropriate for us as a team at this time."
He takes out a folded up piece of yellow paper from his wallet. He opens it and reads slowly rolling each word out. "Grant us brotherhood. Not only for this day, but for all our years." He pauses and scans the room. "A brotherhood not of words––but of acts––and deeds."
It's dead silent. "Gentlemen. Think about it," he says.
I share this now because as Coach T. said, I think it's appropriate and meaningful for us at this time. It is a time for actions and deeds, not just words.
Be well. May God bless us all and grant us unity in this day.
Bob
BIG P.S. - I don't share this to be self-serving in that some might be interested in buying the book. However, since that might happen, all royalties from purchases of REBOUND moving forward in this year will be donated to CLASP (The Center for Law and Social Policy). Check it out and consider a donation or volunteering. Their basic mission is "Reducing Poverty. Promoting Economic Security. Advancing Racial Equity."
CLASP is rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator. The highest rating given. https://www.clasp.org/
Given recent circumstances in our country, I felt the need to take a time out from math and share instead some thoughts about brotherhood. Which for me (and safe to say, the Bible) is the opposite of racism and division.
Growing up I most often felt real, genuine brotherhood with people of different races when we were all working together on something. It might have been a play, or in Boy Scouts camping, or a service project, or in a class. However, I felt it mostly strongly in sports. I decided to write about that experience in a young adult book called REBOUND.
The book was originally called BLACK AND WHITE, but in the last months before publication another book called BLACK AND WHITE came out, so we had to come up with a new title.
I wanted to call my book BLACK AND WHITE, not only because the story centers on a high school basketball team with a mix of black and white players and their conflicts, but also because my personal experience with racism was that it was most often not a clear cut or black and white issue.
In part I was reacting to books written for teens (and adults) that oversimplified things. The racist characters depicted in these stories always seemed to be totally and completely evil. They were racists, they were mean, they were lawbreakers, they kicked dogs, etc. They were easy to hate.
My own real experience with racism was that people I knew who were kind, loving to their families, law-abiding, and church-going, could also be racists. On the other hand, there were also people who talked like they were racists in certain company, but in action demonstrated love and compassion for other races. Meanwhile some folks who talked a good game about brotherhood, were far from it in action. It was not just all black and white. There were a lot of shades of gray.
I chose to write in a sports context because when we play a sport we often get to see people as they really are. Truth comes out. Decisions are made. Action is required. Not just talk.
In REBOUND, I had a coach character who tries to bring his team together and overcome racist actions on both sides of the aisle through his actions and words. Here is an excerpt from a speech he gives in the locker room after a racial incident in the stands at a game. He shares a quote from American poet, Stephen Vincent Benet. Here's the passage:
Coach T. walks slowly to the center of the room and folds his arms. "One last thing then. I'd like to read you a quote. Sort of a prayer, if you don't mind. I think it's appropriate for us as a team at this time."
He takes out a folded up piece of yellow paper from his wallet. He opens it and reads slowly rolling each word out. "Grant us brotherhood. Not only for this day, but for all our years." He pauses and scans the room. "A brotherhood not of words––but of acts––and deeds."
It's dead silent. "Gentlemen. Think about it," he says.
I share this now because as Coach T. said, I think it's appropriate and meaningful for us at this time. It is a time for actions and deeds, not just words.
Be well. May God bless us all and grant us unity in this day.
Bob
BIG P.S. - I don't share this to be self-serving in that some might be interested in buying the book. However, since that might happen, all royalties from purchases of REBOUND moving forward in this year will be donated to CLASP (The Center for Law and Social Policy). Check it out and consider a donation or volunteering. Their basic mission is "Reducing Poverty. Promoting Economic Security. Advancing Racial Equity."
CLASP is rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator. The highest rating given. https://www.clasp.org/
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