Doug Williams: First black quarterback to win a Super bowl.
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As a white guy, a professional athlete who had many black friends, I have no idea what growing up in the black ghetto is like.
For the most part, the black professional baseball player, had escaped the ghetto, while the majority of his friends were dead, crippled or in jail. This did not impact me then, as a young athlete, like now.
The ballpark was always a safer environment than the neighborhood where they grew up. I was glad to be on the field instead of being in the stands in some cities.
I had utmost respect for their toughness, courage and ability to perform. Baseball was the first place to integrate in America.
Stereotypical judgments were so erroneous on the black athlete. It took Doug Williams to win a super bowl to squash the myth, blacks were not smart enough to play quarterback.
That was 1988! Yes 1988.
Playing ball in the south, I have witnessed outright racism towards my friends.
A few times I felt ashamed as a white man for such ignorance, fear and hate being displayed.
Seems many things have not changed since my teens.
If you meditate, empathy grows, compassion expands, suffering is not overlooked or ignored any longer.
The color of our skin causing one to hate another saddens me.
Laws can not fix that hate.
Caring for the wellbeing of the less fortunate is part of the path.
Taking action to help can be a rewarding part of our journey.
For me, being part of others healing as a mentor, overflows my chalice (mug, goblet). It is the giving, taking action, to help others lessen their load, suffering, that makes me feel happy.
Displaying hate, fear or racism is so far from being happy, so far away.
Giving, helping, caring is needed by the majority of us.
Maybe opportunity and resources are needed before more arrests.
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PTSD - A Way Out.com 