Lindsey Sterling, Red Rocks, A Biracial Individual’s View of Critical Race Theory

“I can’t change where I come from or what I’ve been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”
— Angie Thomas

Good morning, a little later than usual, we didn’t get home until 11:00 from Red Rocks, and then we stayed up with our guests Bill and Carla until midnight.  I’ve not seen midnight on a school night for many moons, but we had a great time.  I’ll take the late wake-up time to enjoy time with friends any day.

We worked around the house until 3:30; that’s when our friends from Indiana showed up; we caught up on their quick trip out to CO, they bought us tickets for a Red Rocks show.  We took them to dinner at the iconic Fort, then headed to start our four-night run at the infamous amphitheater.

We had tickets for Lindsey Sterling, Lindsey Sterling, you ask, well I had never heard of this woman, but my God, what a show.  She had a great opening act Kiesza who had one hell of a story and was a great entertainer, but then Lindsey came out with a drummer and a keyboard player, and she was playing the violin or, as we say in Parker City, a fiddle.

Imagine a scene with a young lady, very fit, doing ballet, dancing with four other beautiful women playing an electric fiddle.   The videos she used to support her performance were inspirational, reminding us we are enough, have gifts.  We have the same mindset.  If you get a chance, look up Lindsey on YouTube, she’s fantastic.  We will be picking up some vinyl today.  

Last night was magical, and I suspect tonight will be enchanted as well.  My wife, I, and another 20 or so folks are meeting in the upper south lot for a happy hour to some relationship building.  Tomorrow we will take some friends and meet our Wisconsin friends and hang out to get them primed for the Avett Brothers show, and then on Saturday; we will return with tickets in hand to see one of the greatest bands in the land the Avett Brothers.  We are blessed to live about 23 minutes from one of the most outstanding music venues in the world.

Ok, sorry to do this, but I need to make a hard right turn.  I wrote yesterday on critical race theory.  I’m a white guy; I am not a fan of the teaching of our children that based on your race, you need to be sorry for the actions of your ancestors. But, the past is the past, the future is the future; let’s focus on the future and understand that everyone had an equal opportunity.  CRT is based on the notion that there are black people and there are white people, and black people have been suppressed for ages, and it’s time to teach the “real history” of our country.   But what’s missing in this teaching is that there are folks that share both white and black parents; what is a biracial person supposed to do with the instructions of CRT?  I have a friend, a good friend who is biracial, and he sent me this note yesterday.

You and I agree on the critical race theory and racism points 100%.

I find it remarkable (meaning worth remarking on) that the critical race theory has been a binary discussion focused on blacks and whites – as if we are penguins.  What about those, like me, who are mixed race – how does CRT implicate them?  Must I acknowledge my privilege and oppression? Be angry at me and apologize profusely?  What about my kids who are ¼ black, ¾ white?  What about my niece and nephew, who are ¾ black and ¼ white?  Here’s an excellent piece by Florida representative Byron Donalds, a black man with a white wife and bi-racial children.  It is illuminating and articulates my view on the issue. 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/5/divisive-critical-race-theory-spits-on-the-civil-r/

Fundamentally, race is skin deep, but the proponents of CRT need it to go deeper – deep enough to reach their bank accounts by profiting on lousy religion.

FYI – You’re more than welcome to share my views with anyone you’d like.  You’re also welcome to tell them I am a black man who holds these views.  As well, you’re welcome to say to them I am a white man who has these views.  As for those who might say, “what would his dad say?” – well, that’s easy.  My dad was born in 1924 on the south side of Chicago.  His father left him before he was born.  His mother died when he was 3.  Cousins raised him during the school year (in Brazil, Indiana) and an aunt during the summer (in Chicago).  Pretty precisely, the person CRT targets.  And what happened?  He chose not to complain, focused on being the best he could be.

Making the best of his situation (which was not a good situation) and ultimately became a doctor. He was also a captain in the army, the first black person to be an elected official in Fresno, California and the first black person to serve as an elector in the California electoral college (the 1972 Nixon election).  And he married a white woman in 1965 – the fourth interracial couple in Fresno (yes, Fresno tracked the number of interracial couples in 1965). 

He would say focusing on oppression will keep you oppressed.  Concentrate on being the best you can be will make you the best you can be.  That, in turn, will allow you to make positive changes globally, particularly for those who are genuinely oppressed, which is precisely what he did. Ok, I’ll get back to work now since MLK, my father, and other civil rights leaders lived, worked, and died to give me this opportunity – and the opportunity to be your friend.

I’ll not share his name, it’s not essential, but this is the other side of the coin when conversing about CRT.  Not everyone is woke; some of us still believe in equality and hard work.  Focusing on God’s gifts gave you to be the best person and make the most significant contribution to society one can make.  Let’s stop dividing people and start a conversation that brings all people together, not caring about the color of their skin but based on their individual contribution to society.

Well, I will leave it there; I’m not trying to piss you off, nor is my friend that has a unique perspective on the world happening around us. But, some of us are trying to have a sensible conversation about where we find ourselves these days and how we modify the conversation not to divide but bring every person to the table of equality and opportunity.

“I can’t change where I come from or what I’ve been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”
— Angie Thomas