It was early morning, and bunches of school kids stood by their mailboxes in the cool autumn air, waiting for the school bus. Just one bus plied these arrow-straight country roads, picking up students at one- and two-mile intervals—students not only from all different grade levels but indeed from different schools, both public and parochial. In one tiny farm village, little m (...)
Article
‘Gentiles Only’
Boyhood Memories of an Ordinary Bigotry
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I thank Mr. Schaefer for sharing that early experience. I happened to have grown up in a small town in Wisconsin, and early memories of negative labels families used left a lasting impression. The reach of racism or discrimination is remarkable. For many, only leaving that narrower place can overcome the negative nurturing that occurred. Small town were protective, but also could instill bigotry. I suppose today's far reaching media changes that picture, but we still are challenged to look at our reactions to the diverse population we are a part of.