Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes
I met a woman at a Bill Withers concert. She was in the row in front of me on a date with another man. She had a great smile, a great laugh and a lightness of being. I did everything I could sitting behind her to be noticed. Through research with friends, I heard she was a freshman who lived in town, not on campus.
Somehow, I figured out a way to ask her out. I remember the first walk. I was a sophomore; she a freshman.
I remember the first kisses. She was a very beautiful Black woman. Our kisses were gentle, connective and filled with surprise for how enthralled we were with each other.
It led to dating throughout the next years. At the end of my junior year, we went to Mexico City by car and stayed with friends. As we left the confines of the small-minded Midwest, we were both embraced by the glorious Mexican people. It was freeing for us as a couple and also very freeing for her to be out of an insular community where she was well-known based on past accomplishments.
When I went to New York City, she came for an extended visit. The city was totally magical and everywhere welcoming of an inter-racial couple. She also came for extended visits to Minneapolis when I was in law school.
After much discussion, we decided to end the long-distance relationship. She, on graduation with her accounting degree, went to San Francisco to work and to connect with her father who was absent for her childhood.
This magnificent woman changed my life in so many ways. She allowed me to deeply love her and she extended deep love in return. Through her, her wonderful Mom and many friends, I came to be gifted a learning of the daily difficulties of being Black in America. I was also gifted the enormous privilege to be included in the uplifting Spirit of Black communities.
We have stayed in communication over the years with holiday cards, email, texts, and periodic phone chats. All such a delight.
My touching memories of her and so many people, events and experiences remain as huge gifts that fill my soul.
With gratitude and love to my first real love!