A man in a uniform looked at me and said, “Son, you’ll have to gain three pounds to get into this man’s army.”  It was in early 1969 that I was required to appear for a selective service physical examination.   I walked through the examination center in my underwear along with John, a college friend who was scheduled for the same day.

John was next in the line where height and weight were checked.    He was a good student,  a big man, a capable athlete, and black.  The same man (white) looked at him and said, “Boy, you’ll have to lose five pounds to get in this man’s army.”  I could see my friend’s dark brown face turning red; and feared how he might respond to being called “boy”.  He paused, looked back at his antagonist, and replied, “Yessuh Boss”  then mock-shuffled away and laughed out loud. Continue reading HOW RACISM LIES IN WAIT FOR US →