Conversations abound now as people aboard the bus have broken down the barriers between them. the topics are about prison gangs and whether What-A-Burger is better than In-N-Out Burgers. (Personally I have to admit that I really enjoy the simplicity of the In_N_Out burgers.) Some shyly join the small group that is actively talking, but most just listen. As the conversations become more lively so does the landscape passing outside the bus. Small treeless hills emerge, almost as a prelude to the upcoming symphony of the mountains ahead.
It seems most of the people on the bus are returning to California, either from living elsewhere, from prison, or even from a holiday. Arriving at the El Paso bus station, I discovered one of the cleanest bus stations thus far. The new driver isn't very friendly.
After boarding to continue our trip, I started up a conversation with the man seated in front of me. He, along with a brother and uncle, are returning to Los Angeles from a family reunion in Mississippi. From my always curious mind the questions about their lives flowed. Their mother had moved their family from Mississippi in the early 1960's due to the race contentions of the time. They moved to Indiana where there was no separation about color. After some time and age they all began to migrate to other states, with these three residing in Los Angeles.
I couldn't imagine having to move because of the color of my skin, yet, even if this day and age with an African American President, racism is a concern in much of the country. When will we all be able to accept each other as individuals without regard to race or any other issues?
How to you see others? How do you treat others different than yourself?
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