Picture by Stephanie Ely
This essay is a part of a sequence—we requested 17 Atlantans to inform us how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has affected their lives in honor of its sixtieth anniversary. Learn all of the articles right here.
Within the early 70s, my mom noticed that non-public faculties in New York Metropolis had been providing black college students the chance to attend their prestigious establishments on scholarships. The Civil Rights Act made this doable, however the faculties that applied the Act’s objectives had been the true heroes. My mom utilized for me to attend St. Bernard’s College (all boys) in Manhattan. I bought accepted and began fifth grade.
I’ll always remember my mom’s phrases of recommendation as I used to be leaving for my first day of college. He stated, “This faculty is supplying you with the chance due to a legislation handed years in the past. It’s important to work arduous and research your classmates. They’ve all the benefits at their disposal, so it is as much as you to be the perfect.”
All through my time at St. Bernard’s, I used to be the “different,” the black scholarship child from Harlem in a sea of rich white boys in New York Metropolis. This created a giant stress in my early days as a scholar. I used to be instructed that I used to be “performing and speaking” after I was round my pals in Harlem, but I used to be “different” with my pals at college. It was a sophisticated place for a younger teenager to navigate on this planet.
I think about tens of millions of women and men in company America really feel this similar push and pull. Being referred to as to “make it” whereas making an attempt to remain true to ourselves. The passage of the Act in 1964 couldn’t have predicted the emotional burden it will place on so many. Actually, blacks and whites had been made to see one another and, extra importantly, themselves in another way due to a legislation. This leads to many problems in society, and I had one. This expertise, nonetheless, has enabled me as an grownup to navigate a tough world the place black and white aren’t solely colours, but additionally mentality, political relations and tradition.
Passing the legislation made me who I’m. I take consolation in the truth that I’m as a result of civil rights activists and well-intentioned politicians see match to combat, march, and vote for a legislation that legally compels us to like each other as human beings.
Shelly Winter Speak present host on WSB radio.
This text appeared in our June 2024 situation.
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