Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 15, 2020

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THE CONVERSATIONS....

Talking About The Things That Really Bother Us

Mountain View News Saturday, August 15, 2020 

EDITORS NOTE: If you are living in America here and now, these are extradinarily difficult times. It is as though every single thing that could possibly challenge us and our beliefs, 
regardless of who you are, is demanding attention. Right now. Regardless of your race, gender, political beliefs, religion, or national origin, everyone is talking about everything that 
is or has turned their lives upside down. Our faith in our Democracy is faltering. We are being divided because of our religious and political beliefs; we are in denial about the lack of 
respect we show for each other and how little concern we have over the plight of those who are different than we are. Add to that, we are all struggling with COVID-19 which has made 
us deal with a previously incomprehensible situation over which we have no control! Yes, there is much that we want to talk about.

Every single day, The Mountain Views News hears from readers who have something to say. Whether it is our nation's state of political affairs, schools opening during a pandemic and 
what is the right or wrong things to do; the demand for social justice, the economy.....you name it and we hear from you. Why not share your conversations with others?

To that end, I have decided to run a special 'Letter To The Editor' section called "Conversations" where people can share their thoughts and/or experiences. We have a lot to learn from 
each other and we may find that we are really more alike than different. So, get on your computer, and send us what's on your mind. WARNING: Don't be mean spirited. No personal 
attacks. It's ok to be angry, but tell us why. Disagreement is fine and welcome, but this is a segment dedicated to having civilized 'conversations' about what concerns you as it relates to 
this country's current state of affairs. Share your experiences and feelings. We'd like to know. Maybe you can help us all out.

All submissions must be in electronic text format. No pdf's please. Submissions can remain anonymous if requested. Email your 'conversation' to: editor@mtnviewsnews.com. 

Susan Henderson, Publisher/Editor

THE ROAD FROM 1966 MISSISSIPPI TO 2020 SIERRA MADRE 

Part 3 0f 3 by Stuart Tolchin

So how did Mississippi impact my life? 
Perhaps I gained a perspective from realizing 
the importance of unity and religious 
support. Maybe I was put in touch with 
my white privilege and realized the stress 
of threatening racial violence—maybe- yes, 
a little. I did appreciate the importance of 
communication between family members 
and the importance of listening and 
understanding. I did help to bring at least 
one of the Mississippi kids to UCLA to 
participate in the Upward Bound Program 
and he did very well. He ended up going up 
to Palo Alto and became a member of the 
School Board.

What did I gain from the visit? 

Prior to going I was well aware of the violence 
involving Civil Rights workers. I knew and 
yet was absolutely eager to go. It was my 
chance to actually get off the sidelines and 
get into the game. I was obsessively certain 
that I was soon to be drafted and sent to 
some far-away place to be killed fighting a 
senseless war in Viet Nam. I decided that 
if I was going to be killed it might as well 
be as a part of a struggle I believed in. My 
expectations about Grenada Mississippi was 
that under the remnant of Jim Crow Laws life 
for Black People in Grenada would be easily 
observable as intolerable. And I could help.

When I finally arrived I realized that my 
expectations were totally wrong. The place 
was beautiful. I heard moving speeches 
about the importance of non-violence. I was 
surrounded by Black High School Students 
who taught me their secret handshakes. 
There was a unity, a solidarity of purpose, 
experienced and inspirational leaders, and 
I was working with Martin Luther King’s 
organization.

I learned about the importance of 
maintaining an economic boycott of White 
stores and was asked to participate in 
the scheduled Mass Marches. I spoke to 
parents concerned about the welfare of their 
children and honestly shared their concern 
but emphasized that change was coming and 
that their children were a part of that change 
which had attracted the whole world’s notice. 
I was now a member of a team and was proud 
of it. I think the first thing I realized upon 
getting home and dealing with Law School 
was how much fun it was to do something 
important. I began volunteering for the 
Lawyer’s Guild and figured a way to avoid 
being drafted and helped hundreds of others.

After passing the bar, I had become friends 
with an older distinguished Black lawyer. 
One day we were late getting back to court. I 
said “We gotta run” and began to jog. He said 
“Black Man don’t run on city streets.” And 
it hit me. This was the late 1970’s and still, 
no matter his achievements, a Black person 
lived within limitations and restrictions not 
appreciated by a naïve White guy.

I became aware of what I had missed learning 
in Mississippi. Although it had seemed 
beautiful to me there was always a limitation 
of opportunity. One could only rise so high. 
To young people, particularly, this lack of 
opportunity was intolerable. I am very aware 
that these hopes have remained largely 
unfulfilled. Still I want to believe that change 
is coming if we can ever survive all of our 
other problems. The presence of a woman of 
color and her Jewish husband will be a great 
victory for My Team. Yes, I was very blind in 
Mississippi and did not recognize what was 
right in front of my face. I was blind but now 
can see and if I can see it there is great reason 
to believe that our new Federal Leaders will 
do what is necessary to end this intolerable 
inequality and create a system of which all of 
us, all of us can be proud. Hooray for Mamala 
Kamala and Doug. 

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