Rodent Regatta

The history of Memphis has been marked by racial disputes over almost any issue. From race riots to garbage strikes to civil rights marches, this city has always managed to polarize virtually everything.

In the last decade, the citizens have attempted to accept the fact that the ’race card’ will always be played. Doing so has allowed leaders to preempt some disputes by developing a plan that pacifies those who would be most likely to oppose a project.

Racism in this city runs several directions. Outspoken members of the African American race say some rather harsh things about other leaders in the city. The ’good ole boy’ network continues to say things ”privately” that make it obvious that racism remains rampant. Now opponents of the Hispanic community speak out as well.

Last weekend Ballet Memphis conducted the second of its fall shows. With one exception involving a serious injury to one of the dancers, the show was quite a success. However, one of the ’critics’ for the local newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, had the audacity to drop a comment about diversity in the middle of his review. Amazingly, he was writing about a portion of the show in which the cast consisted of 2 black dancers, a Venezuelan, a person of Jamaican ancestry and 2 Hispanic dancers in addition to 3 people from the USA.

In addition to their various races and nationalities, these people ranged in age from 18 to 34, and there was an equal mix of males and females. There were people with sexual preferences that span the spectrum.

I’m sure I’m too old to understand the word ”diversity.” What is clear to me is that I’ve got a better grasp on it than a guy who was supposed to be writing a review of a ballet – not making a cultural statement. Were he to include cultural remarks in future work, I hope he’ll do his homework.

[By the way, if you glance at the photo, daugher #3 is second from the left.]