Who’d ‘a thought
Posted by caclarkfrieson on February 24, 2006
I had the distinct honor of serving as one of the guest speakers at my Alma Marta, earlier this week. For me, it was quite an enriching experience.
Days later, I still marvel over the experience, and I think to myself: “Who’d ‘a thought that anybody at Southern Union State Community College would be interested in anything that I had to say?” (Especially about African-American History!) Surprisingly, although my vision was sometimes obscured by bright stage lighting, I could have sworn that there were considerably more whites in attendance at the event than blacks.
It was quite enriching to visit the campus of Southern Union, not having revisited the school for probably a decade or more. I drove through the campus, looking for something familiar, perhaps remnants of the old Student Union Building where black students used to regularly congregate together, and engage in hours of playing spades, the favorite of all card games, or the old Administration building. I observed students, black and white, scurrying along from their classes, making their way to the dormitories. Remembering my days on campus, for a moment I caught myself expecting to see the “big hair” of the 70’s and the unhemmed bell-bottom jeans with frazzled edges. Didn’t see that. In that moment, I released a private laugh.
Remembering a quite different day, I marveled again, “Perhaps times are changing.” In my heart of hearts, I pray for the day that every single vestige of racism and disparity has disappeared along with the old structures, hair-dos, and styles of dress that defined the 1970’s.
Copyright 2006 by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson
This article was composed and written by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson, and appeared in the February 24th, 2006 edition of The People’s Voice African American Weekly News (www.peoplesvoiceonline.com). This article may be reprinted with permission from the author:
Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson
email: caclarkfrieson@msn.com
322 Wilkie Clark Drive
Roanoke, Alabama 36274
334-863-4885
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