Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

Kindness knows not color....

9/2/2016

3 Comments

 
by Gwendolyn M Plano
PictureAssociated Press photo (full article is linked to the photo)
      This image has graced every national news station these last two days: a young autistic child and a notable Florida State football player eating together. Neither knew each other before this unexpected lunch date, but seeing the child alone prompted Travis Rudolph to share table with him. Travis could have chosen the boisterous students at other tables, or he could have sat alone; but, he chose to sit by a child who did not even know who he was.

Kindness knows not color.  Just as hearts beat red and tears burn pain, love always softens both.

I am Irish white, but my heart is shades of color. When I’ve been most desperate for help, it was Harriett Tubman I turned to for courage and Maya Angelo for a reason to dream. My whiteness did not bother them. Their blackness did not bother me. We knew each other through the secrets of our hearts and the tears we released.

I’ve never understood the racial divides, though my mom told me this story. I was just a few years old, she said, when a gentleman visited our family’s home looking for work. He was black in color, and I crawled upon his lap. According to my mom, I rubbed his arms thinking the black would come off, which tickled him and left me in giggles. A little white girl and a black man – both laughing at their difference.

A child does not know hate; a child knows wonder - until the child is taught otherwise.  

I’m reminded of a quote by Leo Buscaglia. He said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Travis Rudolph made a difference in a young man’s life, a difference that may affect all that lies ahead for him.

I wonder, what if each of us did the same? Could we, you and I, make a difference in the child down the street, the one who flails his arms when he walks or stutters when he speaks?

Just one child, what if we could help one child see white and black as shadows of the same.  

3 Comments
Jan Sikes link
9/3/2016 05:56:57

Such a beautiful post, Gwen!

Reply
linda link
9/3/2016 07:37:39

Hi Gwen! I saw this story, too. It was pretty special since I'll bet things like this happen often, but they don't get air time. I'm reminded of the white police officers who bought toys for black kids because everyday they played in the street with sticks, cans, and bottles. Thanks for giving this story even more air time! Hate is learned. It's not innate!

Reply
John Fioravanti link
9/3/2016 14:17:42

A very lovely post, Gwen. I grew up in a predominantly white small town in Ontario, went to high school where there was only one black guy in our grade. It wasn't until my first year university that I became friends with two black guys. As I grew up in the 60s and watched the race riots unfold south of the border, I was too perplexed for words. I don't understand this hatred and I count myself blessed. You're right, kindness and love are both colour-blind.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama