People are forever asking me about the changes I've found here in this country since I've been back. Thirty years is a long time. Too tell you the truth I don't see that much has changed at all. I guess there are more people and so there are larger shopping malls and enterprises. But the Maas Brothers and Webbs City of my youth had already been replaced by Tyrone Shopping Mall when I returned from college. Now there are many shopping malls selling more stuff. I suppose if I had a lot of money I would be more interested in the stuff they sell but I'm really glad I don't actually. I never did go into Bangalore from Whitefield very much as it seemed to clutter my mind instead of attaching it to Swami and mantra. Not that keeping stuff out of my mind made me a better devotee. Swami is in charge of that department anyway. Swami always liked to talk about the farmer who would start his day with folded hands saluting Lord Suriya never to think again of God until sunset. Purity of mind seems to be the real issue.
Where was I? Oh yes, changes. The only real change I've found here in this civilized world has been the fact that we have so many black people moving among us. I left this country in the seventies and the benefits of the Civil Rights Movement had yet to become apparent in our neighborhoods. At that time black people in St. Petersburg worked mostly as gardeners and maids. In California things were actually moving forward but in the south we just never saw black people out of their neighborhoods on the south side of town, It has been a profound and welcomed change. I guess if the high school and college graduates wanted employment years ago they would 'go north' But now they can find jobs anywhere and if they are discriminated against they can sue, not just swallow hard and try not to cry or beat somebody up.
I feel strongly about this because to tell you the truth, I like black people best. I was raised in the kitchen with Annie Mae and she loved me. She always loved me every moment of the day and had time for me. I connect acceptance and warmth with Annie Mae and Rosalie. Swami used to tell the Anantapur girls to stay home with their children because otherwise their children would cry at the cremation of their maids not them. I was in India when Mama died and I don't know what happened to Annie Mae or Rosalie.
When I lived at the ashram I would often chat or sidle up to any black ladies I encountered. I was looking for warmth. You know, the blacks from France and UK were nice too but not like like African Americans. I really don't like that term very much by the way. My family came from Wales but I don't call myself a Welsh American. That was a long time ago and all or most of our blacks came or were brought over here in the 1800's, a lot longer ago than most Americans.
Our blacks fought their way out of slavery and won in the the Civil Rights struggle. All this has created a group of very aware strong people. They are perhaps friendlier, more open, more intuitive. and relate mostly heart to heart. I am so glad to have them around now that I'm back.. It's their love you know.
No comments:
Post a Comment