Racism, white and black, is distructive. Having grown up in rural South Louisiana during the 1950, I was raised by a black nanny who disciplined me as required. I played with her black children and never saw racism until I was 7 years old at the small town theater on Saturday night. I saw Eric in a separate line and invited him to join me. When I saw the look on his face and read colored on the entrance he was going into, I was ashamed of segregation.

That is not the case anymore. The pendulum has moved to the other extreme. Race baiting is a profitable industry for many. Instead of moving on, I see a propensity to punish.

At this point in my life, I have adapted the “serenity prayer”

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

For those wishing to make positive change, instead of spreading hate, put something back into the community: I do prison ministry. There are numerous choices instead of tearing down.