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Open Poetry #42
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Felix Meets Racism
| Open Poetry #42 |
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Felix Meets Racism |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
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Felix has a friend named Sam. He’s a little black kid. He’s loads of fun. Felix and Sam are in the Settlement House Station wagon. Mister Joe is going to drive them to Atlantic City. There is a big hotel down there. The owner of the hotel always invites the settlement house kids down to swim in the hotel’s fancy pool. They get to the hotel, and the philanthropist greets them. The philanthropist says everyone can swim in his pool, except Sam. He doesn’t allow blacks in his pool. Sam’s face drops like a rock. Mr. Joe says that won’t do. He tells the kids that want to, can go swim in the guy’s pool. As for him and Sam, they are going down and swim the ocean. It’s bigger anyway. About half the kids go swim in the hotel pool, while Mr. Joe, Sam, Felix, and the rest of the kids enjoy the ocean. Bobby Author's note: This is a true story. I was Mr. Joe. It happened in 1958. Thank heavens those days are gone forever. Yeah, I'm Felix too, way back when. [This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (03-08-2008 07:53 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2008 Robert E. Jordan - All Rights Reserved | |||
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secondhanddreampoet Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394a 'Universalist' ! |
fine and 'important' reality write (as is so typical from this interesting author)... From what I've seen 'those days' are not entirely 'gone forever'...bigotry, prejudice, intolerance...all forms of exclusion and disenfranchisement have gone much deeper underground and/or morphed in approach into more subtle forms (hiding behind many masks/layers of 'socio-political' correctness.) serious applause for this 'penning!' |
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1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
i am felix, too a square peg just tring to find my way and robert e. jordan tonight you go to sleep with a smooch and a smile |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Secondhanddreampoet, I'm afraid you are correct again. Bobby [This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (03-08-2008 09:56 PM).] |
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simon Member
since 2008-01-14
Posts 440London, England |
I love this but I agree, racism still exists (just now it takes a more subtle form) |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Simon, Racism may be subtle in England. Here in the U. S., people marching around the streets in their white sheets isn't subtle. Bobby |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
1slick_lady, Thanks for that. It means a great deal coming from you, a fellow Felix. A smooch and a smile right back at you. Love Bobby |
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LadyTom Member
since 2008-02-29
Posts 353LA, CA |
Very real. I have similar experience. I am glad that Felix stayed with Sam...Friendship and kindness. |
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matronmedusa Member
since 2008-03-08
Posts 89Alabama, USA |
I have truly grown attatched to Felix through the course of his adventures. Thank you for sharing them. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Felix has become a part of my life as well. Ida |
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Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Bobby, you and Felix are writing some really important stuff. Keep it up and now I am off to bed. I'll be smiling as I drift to sleep beacuse you both are leaving me with a feeling of hope. You don't push the memories under the bed, you share them and that makes them real again and lessons for us all to learn from. I remember meeting racism - maybe someday, I'll write the story. Alison |
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simon Member
since 2008-01-14
Posts 440London, England |
My God! Does that still happen? |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
LadyTom, Thanks for your kindness. Friendship and kindness go together like hand in glove. That's the way it should be. Bobby |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Matronmedusa, Felix and I thank you for your kindness. I'm happy that you have grown to like Felix. Bobby |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Ida, Thanks Hon, I know you and Felix have always been close. Bobby |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Alison, Geez, you're making Felix and me blush. I'm looking forward to your write about racism. Bobby |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Simon, Yes, racism, and other "stuff", still happens. Bobby |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
Bobby, my daughter got a new classmate last week & immediately befriended her to make her feel welcome( she is very thoughtful like that)When I asked Rhiannon where her new friend came from, she replied 'Orford' which is an area about 3 miles from where we live, (Eko is a delightful young girl who as it turns out hails from Botswana) I was so happy at her reply...! |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
John, Now there you go. Your Rhiannon is correct. Eko is from Orford now. Bobby |
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simon Member
since 2008-01-14
Posts 440London, England |
Bobby, I apologise if my previous reply seemed in any way flippant. I didn't realise that this kind of poison still existed. I thought humanity had completely moved on. Sad that it hasn't... |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
Bobby, we are all from the same place, we are just using a different zip code & the sun rises & sets at different times, thats the only differnce I see... |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Simon, Yes, racism still exists. Remember, this happened in 1958, that's fifty years ago. How time does fly. Thing are better now, but the poison is still with us. Bobby |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
John, Exactly. Bobby |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A nice writing of the realities of that time...James |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
James, Thanks for your kind words. I'm pleased you liked it. Things have changed for the better. Thanks to MLK Jr. and a lot of other peoples hard, and dangerous work. Bobby |
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TinaTrivett Senior Member
since 2006-07-15
Posts 569 |
I enjoy all of the felix writes...good lessons. Simon, racism is alive and well in the American South. I can safely say it has never left. Just got tucked in a few closets is all. |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
TinaTrivett, Thanks Tina, I'm pleased that you enjoy the story of Felix. He's really a good kid that has had to do some things kids shouldn't have to do just to stay alive. Right here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Bobby |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
it's sad that you all had to witness that Bobby... I'm pleased you made a stand and went to the ocean... love RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Thanks Dear RDB, The ocean was more fun anyway. It's important for friends like Felix and Sam to stick together. Those were fun times. Bobby |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
Mr. Joe is a good man. He did a good thing. |
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