We all cross the same bridge into this
life through our mothers but sometimes in different ways. Once this is done, the patterns of our life
diverge in many directions just like the roadways of our country crossing many
bridges. The bridge of
separation/segregation is now like an invisible string across the roads to
success for many. In the corporate
world, this string is controlled and pulled tight from the top with obstacles
most cannot discern or recognize as a bridge.
The interview for a very high position is mostly held by corporate Americans,
usually older white men, with answers skewed towards a specific group of
people. In one interview I was asked if
I would follow orders, even if I thought they were wrong, from a superior. The wrong answer is, I would ask to discuss
the order and express my concerns to that superior. I am not military or from a military
background and, even though I surpassed all other standards this was one I
could not meet--- undemanding, unquestioning loyalty to a superior.
Making it in life requires the crossing of
many bridges to become a success, especially if you are one of the minorities
in this country. We have been climbing
up and over many bridges created by a society that does not want us on the
other side. As a little girl, I wanted
to see what was on the other side and at that time there was only one visible
and indestructible bridge called segregation/separation that had to be crossed;
so I figured a way around that bridge to get to the other side. And this bridge still exists but has become
hidden and covered like the old covered bridges, found mostly in the west. The bridge of segregation does not always
deal with the color of your skin but can be built around your heritage, sexual
orientation, religion, or other differences that are prevalent in any
society. The latter, religion, should be
a strong bond, a connector not a separating point. Yet in America, we still have this invisible,
insidious bridge that must be eradicated.
Another bridge we encounter is deprivation which is inherent in all poor neighborhoods around the world. People in America, striving to survive on the
pittance from the government, which is supposed to supplement their employment,
but they never make it through the last week of each month without the aid of
food banks or friends. Facing the
struggle to subsist on the pittance, given for survival, especially if you are a
single mother of children, there is always strife in your life. This is supposed to be the richest country in
the world and yet there are children in schools who do not get three solid
meals each day. In our schools, there
should be a last meal of the day to help some children survive until the next day,
yet this is not done. There are
surpluses of grain, wheat and other food products in our great country which
are not being used but they could be used in these communities to survive. How can you sleep at night knowing that this has
not been remedied? More Bridges to
come….
