Recently, to honor a long-time musician buddy who died several years ago, I paid to have a new ramp built at his church in his honor. I still take his sweet wife out to lunch once a week and help with the mail, taxes, car maintenance, etc.

To my surprise, several church members who live nearby came by when the contractor was writing up the estimate and asked what we (caucasions) were doing at the church. After I told one guy what I was there for, he said he meant nothing negative, but white people don't come near the church or the neighborhood, and there had been some recent vandalism (church lights broken, a lock damaged, etc.). George had mentioned me in church, but the people did not know that I was white. The pastor wanted me to come to a Wednesday meeting, which turned out to be a really nice little reception....for ME! He said that in the history of the church, no white person had ever been there or been recognized.

Today, I got a call from the newspaper asking not about my 50 year friendship with George, but what would motivate me to make a significant donation to that particular church. I had previously donated a keyboard stand, cover, amplifier and two wireless microphones and set the equipment up.

I told them that I wanted the donation to be anonymous, and they actually asked me why I didn't want people to know that I made a donation to a traditionally black church.

Just because you don't hear about racial issues as often as in past years (especially the 60's and 70's), believe me, the issues involved are still there. And, people of all races need to dedicate themselves to working together to make life better for ALL of us.


Russ