Having grown up in a "privileged" WASP family and proceeding to have multiple "relationships" and "marriages" with men from assorted racial, ethnic and religious roots, it is good to read this. In particular, I have a richer understanding, which I will share with my adult children, of the connection between me and my second husband whose grandfather was president of Howard University and a member of Haile Selassie's court. His family connections were also described in a book "People Like Us" (I don't remember the author - I gave the book to my son.). He was the father of my second child, my son, and struggled severely to find his "place" in Philadelphia, alternating between "street"/ drug/ jazz culture and being the first "black" student at an elite private boys school.
At the reasonably ripe age of 74, I am beginning to understand what has motivated me in my relationships and my work (social work, medicine, activism). And it is helpful to read and hear your perspectives.
Slavery is a universal phenomenon of humans. All tribes seem to need to war on each other and steal from each other. And humans are captured from both activities and are incorporated into their captors’ lives - usually as slaves of some sort. We still have slavery here. Illegal immigrants = human trafficking = slaves. Good post.
Thank you, Jon.
Having grown up in a "privileged" WASP family and proceeding to have multiple "relationships" and "marriages" with men from assorted racial, ethnic and religious roots, it is good to read this. In particular, I have a richer understanding, which I will share with my adult children, of the connection between me and my second husband whose grandfather was president of Howard University and a member of Haile Selassie's court. His family connections were also described in a book "People Like Us" (I don't remember the author - I gave the book to my son.). He was the father of my second child, my son, and struggled severely to find his "place" in Philadelphia, alternating between "street"/ drug/ jazz culture and being the first "black" student at an elite private boys school.
At the reasonably ripe age of 74, I am beginning to understand what has motivated me in my relationships and my work (social work, medicine, activism). And it is helpful to read and hear your perspectives.
Thanks again,
Marnie Vail
Slavery is a universal phenomenon of humans. All tribes seem to need to war on each other and steal from each other. And humans are captured from both activities and are incorporated into their captors’ lives - usually as slaves of some sort. We still have slavery here. Illegal immigrants = human trafficking = slaves. Good post.
a powerful conversation, thanks Jon, as always.
Great piece Jon