Desert Messenger

January 7, 2015 www.DesertMessenger.com 15 by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH DURING SEGREGATION Vernon Jordan, Homestead, Florida (Written in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday is in January) I drove to Miami last night to hear Vernon Jordan speak at a book fair at a university downtown. YIKES! The friend I was following took the Florida Turnpike, a racetrack that passes for a freeway. The lecture was at 6:00 p.m., and we couldn't leave Homestead until 4:00 p.m. You know what that means: very fast, bumper-to-bumper, rush- hour traffi c increasing in speed and volume the closer we got to Miami. It didn't help my peace of mind to recall more than one multi-car accident on the news. Now I know why I avoid big cities. (I haven't recovered from driving through Boston yet!) Traveling with Gypsy Jane You'll probably remember the speak- er, Vernon Jordan, as Bill Clinton's friend who testifi ed on his behalf dur- ing a much publicized trial. Last night I learned that he was so much more. His degree was in law, but he has been an activist for the rights of Black Ameri- cans (he prefers that term to African Americans) most of his life. Vernon Jordan told us about his new book Vernon Can Read!, a mundane ti- tle according to his family. He delights in telling us they think the title may be okay now that the book is on the best seller list in many cities. Vernon Jordan is a terrifi c speaker! We were mesmer- ized for more than an hour; there was not a sound in the audience of maybe 200 people. I won't retell the many sto- ries he told about growing up black in the south; you can read the book for that, and I highly recommend it. (His story stops long before the Clinton era.) But, I think it's important to tell you WHY he says he wrote the book: so his 11-year-old daughter will have some idea of what life was like when he was growing up in the south. Children today don't know about that -- an important part of black history. Vernon Jordan was born in the South, and you know what? I was also born in the south (Memphis, Tennessee) and experienced some of what Vernon Jor- dan talks about, except for one major difference: I was born white. I experi- enced the separate drinking fountains, restrooms, and segregated schools. I heard a story once about how some black children switched the signs on the drinking fountains because they want- ed to see what "white" water tasted like. Then they stayed around to watch as the white folks drank from the "black" fountain which now said "whites only." Even as young as ten, I sensed the in- justice of it all. My father was co-owner of a cotton business right on the Mis- sissippi River. I went to a private school (Lausanne), and we always had "negra" or "colored" help. (Vernon Jordan says, "We've progressed from nigger to negra to colored to black.") I loved our black nanny/cook/house- keeper "Sara the Cook." (My Mother's name was also Sara.) I saw her when I went back to Memphis for a visit after high school graduation, my choice as a graduation present. I went on the bus by myself, quite a brave undertaking as I look back. I had a list of friends of the family and relatives I wanted to see; "Sara the Cook" was high on my list. Well, Sara had changed in those 13 or so years. She was unrecognizable to me, as I'm sure I was to her. When the door SEE GYPSY PAGE 40 Corner of Moon Mt. & Cowell • Quartzsite • 928-927-5400 QUARTZSITE'S ONLY YEAR ROUND SALON Sandy, Debbi, Cheyanne, Beth, Linda, Jo, Sheryl & Janna ARE BACK WELCOME BACK SNOWBIRDS! FOR ALL YOUR Hair, Massage, Manicure and Pedicure Services C & B LOCK & KEY 39 YEARS EXPERIENCE 928-927-6589 Mobile Service Only Now Available TRANSPONDER AUTO KEYS (Electronic Chip Keys) Jeep, Chrysler, Ford Chevrolet, Toyota & many more! Betty Crenshaw, Owner What in the World is Happening? Wars • Big Brother • NSA • Borders • Mideast Crisis • Disease • Jobs Terrorism • Anarchy •Moral Decline • Earthquakes • Tyranny Gun Control • U.S. Power Decline • Etc., Etc. End Time Prophesies are found in the Bible Book of Revelation Revelation Bible Study on the Air Tuesdays @ 7:30am Starting Nov. 4th Scanners are to learn of emergencies. Listed above are EMERGENCIES! Police/Fire Scanners: 147.36 MHZ Ham Radio Operators: 147.36+ MHZ, 107.5 tone SNOWBIRDS Furnished Trailers For Rent $325/mo. + up Cactus Patch RV Park 928-927-6717 The Smoke Shop Summer Residents & Visitors Thanks for Your Continued Support! WINTER RESIDENTS & VISITORS - YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! WINTER Hours - Oct. 1 st - April 30 th Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday Closed

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