Title:  One race, the Human Race

An incident between myself and a co-worker illustrates how a simple
workplace discussion forever changed my perception of the world. It was
one of those everyday things that didn't seem terribly earth shaking on
the day it happened. Its profound impact on me, and the life-long lesson
I learned from it, is now clear when viewed through the cloudy lens of
an over 20 year-old memory.

This simple story is my attempt to relate that lesson to others and pay
a small tribute to the man who opened my eyes to a fundamental truth.
I'm sorry to admit that I am no longer sure I correctly remember his
name. For the purpose of telling this story I call him Roger.

   I worked in a small machine shop in 1977. The group I hung around
   with there included an aspiring writer (not me), the father of Cheap
   Trick's lead singer, and an African-American named Roger. I recall
   enjoying their company very much. All of us got along quite well and
   we'd get together during our breaks and talk.

   One day, during our early coffee break, I started talking about an
   amusing story from the previous day's newspaper. I cannot recall the
   details anymore, but some teenagers were messing around on the
   railroad tracks not far from work. I began by saying, "Did you guys
   read about the two black kids that ..."  I didn't notice at the time,
   but as I continued Roger quietly got up and left the group.

   Right before the noon break our foreman, Lloyd, asked me to talk to
   Roger. He didn't like seeing him so upset. He thought Roger and I got
   along well. Lloyd suggested (rather firmly) that I clear up this
   "problem" as soon as possible. I was puzzled -- Roger was upset? With
   me?  What was wrong here?

   At break-time, I went over to Roger and asked what was wrong. He
   looked at me and said, "You don't know, that's what's wrong!"

   "What are you talking about?" I asked.

   "You really don't know, do you? You don't remember what you said this
   morning?"

   "No, I don't remember saying anything to you all day."

   Roger said, "You didn't exactly say it to me. I expected better from
   you. You're educated and I thought you'd have the sense not to say
   things like 'two black kids...' You wouldn't say 'two white kids...'
   would you? Was that really important to telling that story?"

   "No, I guess not. So that bothered you?" I asked.

   "You're damn right that bothered me!  And I'd expect you, of all
   people, to know that!  How can you possibly look at me as an equal
   and go around saying things like that...things that show me you
   obviously think we are not...casually putting me in some 'other'
   category. It's not right for you or anyone to say that!  Don't you
   get it? We're all people. If you honestly believed that you'd never
   say what you did this morning. Until you can understand what that
   means, I don't want to be around you!"

   I understood what he was saying and he was absolutely right. How
   could I have been so blind? So insensitive? I never intended to act
   like a racist, but I sure came off sounding like one.

   I offered my trite apologies and cliche excuses ("can't help it I was
   born white ... product of society ... just repeating what I
   read..."), but Roger wasn't satisfied. Nothing I said seemed to do
   any good. He stood his ground until I asked, "What exactly can I do?"

   "Well, that's really your decision isn't it?" Roger replied
   cryptically.

   Then it dawned on me like an epiphany. "Roger, about the only thing I
   can think of is this. I promise that, for as long as I live, I will
   never make such distinctions again. I will view everyone, in every
   situation, as plain people; individuals as unique as myself or you or
   anyone. Is that what you're getting at?"

   Roger wasn't sure, but he thought that was close enough. After a bit
   more discussion, we returned to work with the matter settled.

My "problem" with Roger ended then and there, and we never discussed it
again, but what I learned that day will always remain a part of me.
Racism will only end when we are all just people, fellow human beings.
Over the more than 20 years since then, I've tried to conduct my life
with the lesson he taught me in mind:  We are all one race, the human
race.

And, yes, when filling out forms that ask about my race, I check off
"other" and write in "human" or decline to answer at all.