Hi guys, sorry I’m a little late posting. This post is not about Seal or Heidi, it’s just the best photo I could find. It’s interesting how few (quality) photo’s or images of black and white couples are available. Anyway, enough said. This post was motivated by my friend and fellow poet Curtis Longstreet, who has been urging me to post this poem. He thought that because this piece had moved him and led him to many questions in his own life, that it would do the same for others. I value his opinion greatly, and I am here today to touch on the subject of my life, being a child of a mixed marriage. The poem itself expresses it quite well (I believe), but I would like to add that the story of my life is far more complicated and sweeping than the poem goes into. I was a child during the 1960’s and my high school years during the 1970’s were not wrought with violence and torture just the feeling of being and outsider and being bullied for the color of my skin, but not (I don’t think) to any greater extent than that of any other child’s experience of being bullied for reasons of their own. So, understand, I don’t consider my childhood much different than many others who have experienced similar prejudices in their lifetimes. I decided to post this with the hope that it might be of some benefit to that one reader who needs something to relate to and perhaps might find themselves “less” alone for having read it. Thank you Chris, Georgina, Jeremy, and Cherie, fellow poets from cosmofunnel…………..
MIXED MARRIAGE
As I grew up, in Germany, protected by military bases
It never occurred to me
That the color of our faces, made a difference to any one
In far off places
But when I came to America, the prejudice hand, began
To slap our stunned faces
And the hurt inside, grew to faith in friends, and away from men
Known to most as racist
The trials and tribulations, of being a “half breed” child,
created a kind of motivation
The protective instinct I felt, for my younger brother
And sisters
Followed me the rest of my life, as I traveled across this Nation
Many, many times
I experienced hatred and disrespect, in every form
And every situation
But the more I searched for truth, the more “real” friendships
I created
Unwittingly, I discerned a kind of infatuation, a kind of love
Of toleration
And the more I exposed myself, the more respect I seemed
To receive in thanks
And opportunities, that could only have come my way, through
Kind consideration
The black and white of it all, never came down to
True hatred
In most cases it came down to fear and ignorance, and love
Of this, Our Nation
So as I’ve lived this life, seeking the truth, through naivete’
And conflagration
I’ve come to know so much, about people and their
Environments
That God has let me know, I might just have something to share
To make some sense
Of all that I have experienced, I may just have found a way
To make a difference
To take up my pen, to use it as my sword, to reveal the
Black and white of it
To share what I have learned, it comes down to love, and
The faith in other men
And I feel that the time has come, to accept that I have been
Struck down by disease
Only to discover, that it is not just me, suffering because
Of other men
God took my ability to walk, so that I could learn to just
Slow down
To accept that there are those that love, and other men
That hate
But it doesn’t matter, because LOVE always wins
The race
So we needn’t worry, our own, unfair lot in this life
We need only accept each other
To have a happy understanding
Of life……..
Tony Taylor (Chicago, 2014 @ cosmofunnel.com)
Metaphysics and the Movies according to Dartanion2 
Dearest Tony, this writing is so wonderful and presented so well and it is so meaningful ! Kudos 🙂 ! I just lost a full comment but do not feel I can write it completely all over again just now. You are such a tenderhearted friend and patiently you are able to write in such a redeeming and caring way to open eyes in such a peaceful way. I admire you so much for writing on this subject . I never realized how much the Irish immigrants and indentured servants were hated so much but I was made aware of it recently and realized how cruel my adoptive Mom’s attitude was part of the reason I was in such a harmful adopted home and her prejudice daily. I was born from such a hated person. She was unable to feel how cruel her attitude and prejudice tore at my heart and soul.it was tiring and grievous when she would be cruel toward others she hated. I would be kind to them and she tore into me publicly so it was real but within my own adoptive home life ! . She bought me a punching bag one Christmas to teach me to fight and be aggressive as she was. I am so set free and I resisted such attitudes and I forgive all this but on occasion a traumatic memory of this surfaces a d must be worked through. I wrote about my birth Mother’s experience of leaving her Emerald Isle to be an indentured servant in America . This was a writing I recently wrote as I wanted to spiritually put her to rest even though I know I can not afford to go to Ireland in her memory . I have a little corner in my flower bed with a memory plaque and some flowers around a small little angel.i recently found out how hated and shamed Irish people were and that they were lower than Black people and Native Americans. I met a person at a ministry site where food was shared with those in need and she mentioned it as well known fact that Irish servants were the least of all and I saw several documentaries on the subject too. Your article was so very healthy and in integrity of heart as you always are truthful and very much an ambassador in these subjects. That is how you can be so transformative and allows others hearts and eyes to truly see and be enriched and comforted or to see the effect of unkind treatment some do yo others. I love you dearest Tony..Kudos sent from your Kate…..Love to your Mom from my heart and Hi to Isaac. I saw my grandson Isaac today briefly and my son and granddaughter were with his wife’s family in this area as he was waiting for his wife Missy to return from her missionary medical trip for this year in Haiti, home to family tomorrow. Thank you so much for all you share on Cosmo and your sincere and kind friendship to me and others. 🙂 🙂 🙂 xxxooo
WOW Kate……that was really beautifully expressed my friend….always said you should write more……another wow!….I had no idea about that part of your life….so happy you shared that with everyone. Yes, I know of the woes of the Irish……and I am SO sorry about what you had to endure in that household. What’s really interesting to me is how easily you were able to speak so frankly…..like your words were waiting to find a home…..glad it was here sweety. Also, are you talking about writing on cosmo? If so, why didn’t you tell me? You know I’d want to read anything you’ve written…..you must be writing in the STORY section……i’ll have to go check that out. In fact, i’ll go there right after I post this…….I’ve been so proud to call you friend lately. You are such a giving soul, never asking anything in return. I truly hope evry one around you see’s this part of you Kate. Does your family read what you’ve been writing lately? I hope so, writers, (as many of us here know quite well, need support…..more support than most, because so often the writes are VERY personal. Keep writing dear Kate…it looks good on you sweet soul………lots of hugs and smiles and kisses and good wishes…….tony xx
Terrific write and poem Tony. This blog opens conversations and that to me is priceless. Yes I`m from a mixed background. I`ve varified that I have over a dozen racial rivers running in me. One of my sons wants to learn Portuguese because of my name `Correia`. My mom is Portuguese and African and Irish. Her dad is Portuguese and Irish. He mom is Portuguese, African and Carib native. My father is Portuguese, African, Carib, French, Spanish…
Racism is perhaps different for my children than it was for me. I have three grown men now as children and one 16 year old daughter. They have never experienced racism, to my knowledge. I can only say praise the Lord.
Back in my day I got called everything under the sun. The most `popular`racial slur hurled my way in the teen years (when it seems to hurt more) was a slur towards a set of folks who were not ever in my racial profile. It confused me and made me angry at the same time, and caused me to be a rebellous teen and young man. I fought constantly at school and faced detention often. Being mixed can sometimes make you an outside in both traditional racial circles, black and white. When you don`t fit in anywhere you become the perpetual outside.
It has helped me to feel kinship somewhat being born on a small island in the carribean, Trinidad. I only spent 10 years of my life there but it establishes kinship. I`ve spent over 40 years in Toronto Canada. Canada promotes the retention of heritage for its citizens.
Tony your background seems to have given you such a solid outlook on this subject, that I respect so much. You approach this subject with such statesman like calmness, and reason from an intellectual point of view, and it inspires me greatley.
At times it becomes tiresome for me as a mixed man to be asked by confused looking, folks about my background. The subject is not a black and white issue for me and prefer the designation `mixed`heritage. But who wants to be labelled anyway…I`d love to get to the point where the subject is less and less relevant and then dissappears.
Racists and bigots will always be out there, and as Alice pointed out with the Irish, many cultures have felt its sting. Thank you Tony for the approach you take towards the subject. Conversations are amazing things. We are afterall a global community with the internet being so prevalent. There are no colors in words on a screen. Words are binding people together who may have in a different time, never even consider the idea of talking to each other because of racial divides. Ode to progress.
Dear Curtis your comment so added and fit so well with Tony and glad you are so expressive of the blessings and positive futures of the next generations and the internet conections and the global community which is such a helpful caring potential as creative positive people communicate and share. Both your writing and Tony’s are quality of noble expressions that move others who read them forward in such a peaceful natural connection . Thank you so much for partticipating here and appreciating Tony and his article. Wonderful friendship here on Cosmo 🙂
Hey Chris my brother, so glad that you shared all this here man!..Wow, interesting life …….I didn’t know that Canada was so serious about maintaining it’s Citizenship…..I find that fascinating…….always loved trips up there, still consider Banff one of the breathtaking places I’ve ever been, visually stunning. Especially Lake Louise………anyway it sounds like you could relate some very cool info regarding spirituality from the peoples in and around Trinidad…..also, I’m very curious about the racial slurs being hurled at you even though you weren’t a part of that particular ethnic grouping…..that really had to mess with your mind as a youth……I’m not sure HOW I would have handled that…….I think that may have been MORE difficult to adjust to than anything I had to go through………you my friend are such an interesting man—–can’t wait to hear about your book and really hoping to see you on these CHICAGO streets…….very cool mamma jamma…….love to you brother……..ttyl…..tony xx
Dear Tony, I am proud of who you are, and I believe that your upbringing and background growing up have everything to do with how strong and outgoing you are today. You always felt you had to prove yourself, and it has nothing to do with any race but determination! 🙂 I admire your strength so much. You are a compassionate and giving soul. The situations you were faced with in your life all culminated to make you who you are. Racism is a hate crime. It has to do with the wrong condition of one’s a tainted heart, not anything wrong with the one being judged and bashed upon because their color of skin or mixed background of genes. God does not view his precious creation of man that way, and humans should not either. Since our God judges a heart, that is how we should judge as well. I am grateful for any article you write and share about this issue growing up, because it makes me appreciate very much who you are. I adore you for all your great qualities and especially for your kind and loving heart. ❤ Cherie
This was always one of my favorites Tony. Growing up in the South, (tennessee)
I’m certainly no stranger to the bigotry and racism which is still an all too present
danger in ever walk of life and society. (and there are racists in every Cultural
group. Hate is in no short supply.)
Curtis is right, racism an bigotry will always thrive in some degree, because it is
an inherited mindset which is often indoctrinated into an individual before they’re
old enough to form their own views. (though admittedly there are some instances
where someone might have a negative experience with people from another walk
and form a bias based on that experience…choosing to hate them all Collectively
for the actions of a few within said group.)
I think If for racism to be defeated, it would require all people from any walk to
realize that “where you are from” is not a matter of your choosing. No one asks
to be born, or chooses Where they are born..but we can Choose WHO WE ARE,
and where we Go in life…and If one chooses to believe in the Soul…and that all are
endowed with a soul…I imagine it’s colorless.
nice blog my friend.
Love All of you guys SO much for all of the above comments…….your comments alone have sparked interest in this post…….I am your friend in poetry and the love of God shines so brightly in you all…..I thank you for sharing the l;ight my friends……smiles………T xxx
Reblogged this on Metaphysics and the Movies according to Dartanion2 and commented:
Hi guys, yesterday I had a conversation with my son who told me that this was his favorite post. When I looked up the stats this morning it revealed that this post was the 9th most popular of all my posts. I have decided to do more on this subject matter. I have already begun a book on the subject entitled “Mulatto Run ” so I have plenty to convey……see what happens. I am feeling soooo much better today so I hope to continue my daily morning writes on Monday, have a great Saturday and remember where faith resides, anything is possible!!……..smiles………..tony