To All Who Write and Share Here on Medium…

I sincerely wish to thank you. I’m a newcomer and far from being a writer. I joined recently and am in awe of the wonder, the diversity, the knowledge, the humor, the warmth and talent exhibited here. Many of your articles have lead me to further research on topics and issues I might not have investigated.

Someday I can perhaps share some things about my insane childhood, adulthood and how I luckily became a lover, not a fighter.

I eagerly read your articles daily, I have the luxury of being retired and finally having time to indulge myself.

There is one thing on my mind in this year, the year we are to vote for our country’s leader…I’m afraid.

Nearly fifty years ago, I was called a rebel and someone’s whose ideology was to liberal for anyone to really take seriously. Yes, I was a “hippie,” a “flower child” and someone terrified of seeing friends dying in a war I didn’t believe in.

A little more than twenty years later I was hired at a local college as clerical support to instructors. On of my favorites was a professor of Sociology, Tom. We hit it off as great and fun friends but some administrators weren’t happy about that. You see, I was a young white woman and he, an aging black man. It seemed our lunch time discussions and laughter made the hierarchy uncomfortable, not to mention some of the students.

One day Tom summoned me to his office and there with him were eight or nine students. All were black and had been questioning him about our friendship. Tom and I had seen this coming, but not from students, we expected it from administration. We were ready.

Tom handed me a piece of white paper and he stood next to me holding a black notebook. I held that white paper in my hand and said: “Is this the actual color of my skin?” Heads lowered to a very quiet “no.” Tom raised the black notebook next to his face and said: “Is this the actual color of my skin?” Again that quiet “no.” We stood there taking turns glorying in and stating the fact that we were simply different shades of brown.

I was sad to see that so many, black and white, still felt so threatened.

That threatened feeling is why this election year frightens me. It is why so many of your articles here enlighten me, inspire me and cause me to dig deeper, stand stronger, never give in to abuse, racism or hatred.

Thank you!