Blood Lines

In the late 50s or early 60s an all-American family went on vacation. The family consisted of mom and dad and three girls. As the story goes, they decided to take their maid along with them. The maid, like most maids at the time, was a black lady that the family loved dearly. In fact, they loved her so much they considered her a part of the family.

The vacation was a road trip and somewhere along the way they decided to stop for a bite to eat. As they got out of the car they noticed a sign that read “Whites Only”. The father, himself a prominent minister, paused. He had a choice to make. He could either take his entire family into the establishment, leaving the maid in the car or he could find another place to dine.

I cannot imagine what that must have been like. To be there with your maid, a person you consider to be part of your family, and have her see that she was not welcome. What must have that been like for her? Was she numb to it at that point? Did she reluctantly accept long before that that was just the way things were? Did she dream of a day where her children would not be subjected to such humiliation? Was there a part of her that wanted, just once, to walk into a place like that and sit down and demand to be served?

And the family, the family of God, that a large number of people admired? What was their response to be? What must have gone through their minds? They surely would not leave the maid in the car. Would they? Had they resigned themselves to the fact that that was just the way things were? Did they know that their actions that day would speak to the content of their character a half-a-century later? Or did they believe, as so many others, that somehow the maid was inferior?

When I watch what is happening today I can’t help but think of that family. When I hear people at rallies for John McCain and Sarah Palin yell words out like “terrorist” and “kill him” and “off with his head” I wonder if the kids in those rallies will one day recount what they witnessed to their children. And will their children wonder why no one stood up and said stop?

Today I want to ask all of you reading this a question. Putting aside political differences, I want to ask if you have heard the words n*gger and Obama used in the same sentence? Have you heard people call him a terrorist while you were present? And if you answered yes to either question, what did you do? Did you stand up and say, even if you are not voting for him, that you will not tolerate such vicious, deadly language? Or did you keep silent and ensure that the legacy of racism in this country continues for another generation?

Oh, and in case any of you were wondering what that vacationing family did. They left the maid in the car. And with her, they left their faith and dignity and humanity as well.

How do I know this? Let’s just say it’s in my blood.