Back in late August we went to the first 9th grade football game of the season. It was at McCluer North HS in North St. Louis County. The team and the school are primarily African American. The game, being the first of the season, was a bit painful. There were tons of penalties called on both teams, frequent "illegal procedures" and the crowd got a little impatient with the officials. The Jays were behind at the half and were making a comeback by the third quarter. The score was tied in the early 4th quarter and the game was on...and as happens in football there were a series of calls against the home team and in the last minute, what could have been the winning touchdown was called back because of an illegal procedure of somekind. On the sidelines there was a father of a McCluer North player, who had rooted and hollered with all of us, and as it became apparent the game was over for the Stars, he said: "Well, aint that America." Shook his head and left for the car.
Now I'm not saying that any of the officials calls were racially motivated, or even unfair...and I'm not even sure this gentleman was commenting on race as much as the odds seeming to be stacked against the team no matter how hard they worked...but I was reminded that even when I would say "it's not about race" there are those that have lived in a different reality than myself and would say that "it's always about race."
Well I have thought about that gentleman these past few days. And wonder if he is saying "ain't that America!" as the reality of a new history dawns and we all wonder what the future will bring. I hope so. And I hope this time he is saying it with a smile.
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