Because Tuesday Is No Longer a Dream

As we approach the inauguration, many are considering their personal paths and how they have shared in this new moment for our country.  Sid at Old Before Wise has posted an interesting series on the subject.

Growing up in the 1970’s in Hartford County, Connecticut, I was part of  program where students from the city were bused out to suburban schools.  It was called project concern.  The integration of those students into our school was not always seamless, but for the most part, each tended to find his or her place.  My sense was that they always felt like outsiders.  I also think they paid a price back in their neighborhoods.  All social experiments have hidden costs.

I, one suburban white kid, within the context of this social experiment, benefited immensely.  Because of the program, my classrooms from Kindergarten on up had some racial diversity, and my sports teams did as well.  I learned by experience that everyone is an individual and that the labels that spring from racism and prejudice are false.  I never had to decide these issue based on some theory because I knew Edwin and Terry and Clive and Donna and Victor.

I seriously doubt that I was an intended beneficiary of the project concern program.  Yet, because it shaped attitudes, in a small way it played an essential role in the sea change that begins Tuesday, when dream steps into reality.