>>6
I was once approached by a discerning young man of 20 and was told that the word “Nigger” would no longer plague our people, that the word was dead and no longer able and cause undue pain and hardship. I looked this young man over, his face so full of hope for the future and blindness to the indiscretions of the past 60 years and tears welled up inside me. This young man did not know the pain of this word, of it's meaning.
I pulled the young man aside and we sat awhile, engaged in conversation; I in my black pinstripe suit, the attire of success, and him, the baseball outfit of a hopeful dreamer. I informed him that just a moment in time ago he would have not been allowed to wear that outfit, to play with the other boys simply because of his race. I then told him that the word that meant nothing to him meant everything back then, and he didn't believe me.
I promptly stood up, determined to show this young black child the past that he so easily dismissed. I wanted him to know that for some of us, that cursed word still pains us all. I removed the black permanent marker from my briefcase and picked up the young man's baseball bat, and with determination wrote that horrible word upon it. He stared at me, mouth agape at the word NIGGER emblazoned upon the brushed aluminum.
I could still remember the look of sorrow, of hurt at his bat, then of surprise as he realized how words really could hurt, how painful words could really be.
I let the bat fall to the ground, blood dripping from it's brushed metal surface, the young man's eyes clouded and devoid of life.
I will show them all bounceme. I will show them all.