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By Root 63 0

York, but three years later I moved back to Berkeley to live. I telephoned the collector and informed him of my move. He said, “So glad you called. I read of your return in the newspaper. Of course we must get together.” He went on, “You know I am the local president of the National Council of Christians and Jews. But you don’t know what I’ve been doing since we last spoke. I’ve been in Germany trying to ameliorate the conditions for the American soldiers.” His voice was weighted with emotion. He said, “You know, the black soldiers are having a horrific time over there, and our boys are having a hard time, too.”

I asked, “What did you say?”

He said, “Well, I’m saying that the black soldiers are having it particularly rough, but our guys are having a bad time, too.”

I asked, “Would you repeat that?”

He said, “Well, I’m saying …” Then his mind played back his statement, or he reheard the echo of his blunder hanging in the air.

He said, “Oh, my God, I’ve made such a stupid mistake, and I’m speaking to Maya Angelou.” He said, “I’m so embarrassed, I’m going to hang up.” I said, “Please don’t. Please don’t. This incident merely shows how insidious racism is. Please, let’s talk about it.” I could hear embarrassment in his voice, and hesitations and chagrin. Finally, after about three or four minutes, he managed to hang up. I telephoned him three times, but he never returned my telephone calls.

The incident saddened and burdened me. The man, his family and friends were lessened by not getting to know me and my family and friends. And it also meant that I, my family, and my friends were lessened by not getting to know him. Because we never had a chance to talk, to teach other and learn from each other, racism had diminished all the lives it had touched.

It is time for the preachers, the rabbis, the priests and pundits, and the professors to believe in the awesome wonder of diversity so that they can teach those who follow them. It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter their color; equal in importance no matter their texture.

Our young must be taught that racial peculiarities do exist, but that beneath the skin, beyond the differing features and into the true heart of being, fundamentally, we are more alike, my friend, than we are unalike.

… Mirror twins are different

although their features jibe,

and lovers think quite different

thoughts

while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,

we weep on England’s moors,

and laugh and moan in Guinea,

and thrive on Spanish shores.

We week success in Finland,

are born and die in Maine.

In minor ways we differ,

in major we’re the same.

I note the obvious differences

between each sort and type,

but we are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

Jealousy

A jealous lover can be a little amusing. In fact, jealousy made evident in a room filled with people can be an outright intoxicant to everyone, including the lovers. It must be remembered, however, that jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening.

Planned Pregnancy

The woman who has the fortune to plan a pregnancy also has the opportunity to experience rare pleasures. She can consciously participate in the evolution of her body from fecundity to its ultimate production stage, the delivery of a child. During the entire period, if she remains attentive, she will marvel at the emergence of new and delightful sensualities.

She must carefully prepare her mind in order to enjoy the parturition. She will spend time appreciating her body before conception. Knowing that her features will undergo dramatic changes, she and her mate will spend considerable