July 5, 2009

A Cure for Racism in America: Seeing People as Individuals

By Lloyd Marcus
Some people are screwed up. Broken. They choose to hate and nothing will change their minds. I believe most people are basically good. Given an opportunity, they work things out. Here is an example. In 1956, my Dad, Rev. Lloyd Marcus Sr, was one of the first blacks to break the color barrier into the Baltimore City Fire Department at Engine 6. Unlike the white firefighters, Dad did not have free reign of the fire house. A bunk, toilet, sink and single set of eating utensils were marked "reserved" for him. Even the general coffee pot was off limits. White firefighters voted on which TV program to watch. Dad was excluded.They refused to speak to Dad, except to criticize or chastise him for a rookie mistake. His pleasant "Good Morning" and "Good Evening" were met with cold stares and silence. Sometimes their disdain got to dad. Feeling obligated as a representative of Christ, he stayed pleasant. Dad was a young assistant pastor at a storefront church....(Read Full Article)