Very rare that I get into politics or religion here. But I’m moved and thus must speak.
In the late 1980s I lived in Beaumont, Texas and attended Lamar University. Used to race this cat named Terry Foreman, I’ve mentioned him somewhere in RGS before. Very talented runner with a prodigious ability for workouts. Would show up for track workouts, after a full day of laboring on the loading docks, a couple of 20 ounce beers and a joint already coursing through his system. And he’d knock out 20 X 1/4 in :65-:68, 1:00 recovery. One of the lowest body fat % I’ve ever seen too, a Real Natural.
I battled Terry for at least three years and only beat him once, at the RRCA Texas 10 Mile State Championships, the extreme upper limit of his competitive range. He would never race me again. Makes for a nice twist to the story. The Golden Triangle consists of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange Texas. Heavily industrialized with some of the highest cancer rates in the country. And some of the biggest rednecks in the United States. Vidor, Texas was a small, very racist community within the Golden Triangle.
During one particular 10K, much of the course wound through Vidor, home of the most rabid faction of the KKK. Terry and I battling hard, running through the streets. Narrow minded idiots sitting on their porches and curbs, hollering “Don’t let that f****** n***** beat you white boy!” We ended up crossing the finish line together in a show of mutual respect.
When I left Beaumont I was hopeful to never again experience the prejudice and presumed subjagation that I had seen there. You need to remember that I was already in grade school when LBJ passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Saw the battles for dignity and respect that only my generation can truly appreciate.
And now I see Fremont, Nebraska. I see how they are quite happy to have the Mexican population fill the dirtiest, nastiest jobs that no one else wants or would take. Hard working, proud and good people. And a marvelous culture for those that would see. In this land of opportunity, trying to make a life or at least a better one for themselves and their families. Human beings. Exactly like you and me. But not allowed to rent property in Fremont.
I’ve already had heated discussions with people whose opinions don’t square with mine. And anticipate pissing off a few more people today. People that are uncaring and/or ignorant towards their fellow man. Fifty years later and still those that shield themselves in their ethnocentricity. Sad and embarrassing statement.
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