This I Believe

This I Believea

I believe in the spirit and talent of our young people.

Despite the underlying prejudices and stereotypes that are prevalent

in today’s society our young people still press on; Black, White, Asian,

Native American, Hispanic and Multicultural.

Their future is not our future; theirs is rich in technology, music and constant change.

Having been in education for 18 years and coming from a family of educators, my mother

was right in her observation that this generation of the 21st century was not like mines. They are fearless, bold, and reckless. Maybe that is why society fears them, like the mutants in the recent XMEN movies, different in every sense, possessing strange and unique abilities that were never dreamed of in times past, especially in mine past. Embracing technology as an extension of their mental and physical abilities. Changing reality with a wave of their digital fingers.

Born in the 60’s and still hearing the echoes of past segregation, witnessing discrimination from members of my 40’s generation, like a not to distant memory.

This society is a diverse cultural mixture of intertwined races. It is not uncommon to see interracial/multicultural couples strolling, holding hands, embracing and exchanging prideful glances at their multiracial and culturally diverse children that are the result of these unions. They do not display nor practice the racial echoes that once were heard

with racial epitaphs almost 40 years ago.

I feel pity and sorrow for those that look down on such unions; surely God has united these two people of different backgrounds for a greater good. It may be beyond me to understand their purpose on this Earth, but my purpose as an educator is to prepare these

children for academic success. Preparing them for a future that will challenge their technical, academic and creative capabilities. I look upon them as a new era in human

evolution and see a revolution of multicultural colors that will only make this world a better place. I believe that the future is upon us and multiculturalism is spreading like

the wild fires of California. It cannot be stopped or slowed down, the only course of

action is acceptance. My family is a multicultural mixture of Black and White. My Mom and Dad divorcing in the 70’s and my Dad marrying June a White woman, from their

union have three children. They represent what is happening now in society, a mixing

of the Crayola crayons in life. I accept them as my brothers and sister, only hoping

that they look upon me with equal respect.

I have 5 children and see unlimited possibilities in their lives, I only hope they see the unlimited possibilities in themselves. My wife and I are a blended family, this is her

third marriage and my second, she has three kids and I have two. She is Haitian and I’m Black American. All our kids are honor students, teenagers and popular in their own rights.

That is alright.. Our kids call us Mom and Dad and that is all that matters.

Yes, I believe in the future.