Thank you both! That brings back alot of memories for me too. Of course, our family vacations were road trips. We visited most of the national parks in the US and camped there. They were amazing in the 50s, clean and not very crowded. You could always find a camping place if you arrived early enough.
As far as segragation, I at least, was totally unaware of what was happening as we grew up in rural Mississippi. I went swimming with the black kids on weekends but we had to take a bus to town to go to school. I was envious that they got to stay and go to school on the farm. TOTALLY unaware of the fact that they did it since they didn´t have a choice. With all the racial tensions swirling aournd, I happily picked berries, went swimming, without knowing the townspeple were so upset about ¨mixed bathing¨ I think it was just as well I didn´t know what was happening. We grew up without really knowing that peole were judged by the color of their skin. Obviously that wasn´t a choice if you were black. I went to church with Lula, the woman that took care of me since both of my parents were working. I had a great time singing along with the choir and liked their church much more than our boring one. Unfortunately, my kids grew up in Mexico and learned about racism. Here everyone is judged on the color of their skin. The more European blood you have, the better. Though very hypocritcally, the culture of the Aztecs and Mayas is honored. I am happy to say that in Washington State, my grandkids are TOTALLY unaware of racism also. Which goes to show you, it is something that is taught.
Thank you both from me too. Very emotion AND thought provoking. Cathy's question about whether Adwoa had considered writing about these experiences led to another: Have you BOTH considered writing more of these "vignettes" as you did this one - together? The ordinary details described so well - siblings squabbling and playing car-travel games in the back seat, dads being dads, kids' growing awarenesses, etc all make these wonderful windows that make vivid the so-same/so-different realities we all experience on this same continent. They can be timeless, "political-less" ways of seeing, understanding, feeling, that I think can be valuable in this era of seemingly narrower and narrower seeing and understanding.
Great photos! Also important memories and good writing.
Thank you both! That brings back alot of memories for me too. Of course, our family vacations were road trips. We visited most of the national parks in the US and camped there. They were amazing in the 50s, clean and not very crowded. You could always find a camping place if you arrived early enough.
As far as segragation, I at least, was totally unaware of what was happening as we grew up in rural Mississippi. I went swimming with the black kids on weekends but we had to take a bus to town to go to school. I was envious that they got to stay and go to school on the farm. TOTALLY unaware of the fact that they did it since they didn´t have a choice. With all the racial tensions swirling aournd, I happily picked berries, went swimming, without knowing the townspeple were so upset about ¨mixed bathing¨ I think it was just as well I didn´t know what was happening. We grew up without really knowing that peole were judged by the color of their skin. Obviously that wasn´t a choice if you were black. I went to church with Lula, the woman that took care of me since both of my parents were working. I had a great time singing along with the choir and liked their church much more than our boring one. Unfortunately, my kids grew up in Mexico and learned about racism. Here everyone is judged on the color of their skin. The more European blood you have, the better. Though very hypocritcally, the culture of the Aztecs and Mayas is honored. I am happy to say that in Washington State, my grandkids are TOTALLY unaware of racism also. Which goes to show you, it is something that is taught.
Thank you both from me too. Very emotion AND thought provoking. Cathy's question about whether Adwoa had considered writing about these experiences led to another: Have you BOTH considered writing more of these "vignettes" as you did this one - together? The ordinary details described so well - siblings squabbling and playing car-travel games in the back seat, dads being dads, kids' growing awarenesses, etc all make these wonderful windows that make vivid the so-same/so-different realities we all experience on this same continent. They can be timeless, "political-less" ways of seeing, understanding, feeling, that I think can be valuable in this era of seemingly narrower and narrower seeing and understanding.