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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Can I give you an example to chew on? If it's not relevant, then I apologize.
Grew up in a very diverse nova triangle. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic neighbors. Slept over at all their houses, and vice versa. I am white solid middle class. 
In 6th grade, when you begin honors classes, it's very exciting. I was in all honors. I think about 3 black kids were in all honors with me. Diverse but not quite as diverse as the whole school. 
One black boy in particular was extremely smart. Did all his homework. From what I know now his parents are solid middle class too. 
One day in science, probably because he liked me or something, he had a broken rubber band. He snapped it towards me. Not intending to hit me. He hit my face though. It was bleeding, like a stripe down my cheek. I spoke up. It was the middle of class. 
He got in school suspension for 3 days. 
After that, he NEVER looked at me the same. I was not his friend. He continued in honors classes mostly, but he hung out with the druggie crowd later. (Admittedly so we're my friends, but I never tried it, and I left those friends later)
This year he died tragically, and young. Found in a river. 
When I heard it, I thought back to that moment he slapped me with the band. 
-would he have gotten that punishment is he were white? Or would it be minor?
-what if I were a different race, and not a tiny white girl?
-what if the teacher were not white?
-did this impact his life? Maybe if didn't. But maybe that, and allll the other stuff he had to put up with did affect him, and his choices 
-if I knew what I know now, I would not have "told on him." But I was in 6th grade, and a boy hurt me, and I knew he didn't mean it, but I was bleeding...

But I believe now, if it the other 1-2 smartest boys, and not the smartest black boy, they would have had minimal punishment. Maybe would have even given them a "reputation," which for some boys is posituve. But not my friend. :([/quote]

I am so sorry!  that is tough.  You can't do anything to change the past, but by telling your story (and what you know of his) perhaps you are helping to bend the arc of history towards justice.  do what you can to make it happen, in memory of your friend.[/quote]

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