The Voice of Lawrence Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or color of your skin? Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten? Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Do you or did you ever wish that you were another race other than your own? Urban Mozaik Magazine asks these questions of our readers and this is what Lawrence had to say... Name: Lawrence Age: 55 Occupation: Real Estate Agent Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan Residence: Maui, Hawaii Mothers Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan Maternal Grandmothers Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan Maternal Grandfathers Birthplace: Danville, Illinois Fathers Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan Paternal Grandmothers Birthplace: Alabama Paternal Grandfathers Birthplace: Alabama Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? The beauty of America is that it has it's own unique and changing culture. I don't think it would be a reasonable expectation to have immigrants lose their culture and pick up an existing American culture. The wonder of America is that it is changing with every immigrant, adjusting to the world and continuously aspiring to new heights with the input of the inputs of the many. Immigrants have to assimilate to a certain extent regardless and to the extent they wish to participate in the great opportunities of America, they will assimilate even more. It's a choice of degree. Would your parents object to you dating or marrying a person who was of a different race than you? Never. I was lucky to be born to educated African-American parents who understood the detriments of racism and racial discrimination and the benefits of diversity. I grew up with little knowledge of the race challenges of the time until I was 18 and took my first job in an all white environment where I learned what ignorance and racial polarization could breed. What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? Affirmative action has played a major role in my life without realizing it at the time. I know that I was identified to fill some unspoken quota at one time and if it hadn't been for that opportunity I would have never climbed to the ranks of the corporate world that I did over 25 years. It gave me the opportunity to prove myself in an environment that I would not have otherwise been recruited. Until it can be demonstrated that there is no institutionalized racism there will be a place for affirmative action. I believe that modifications to existing programs could be in order and a case by case or company by company review might be a better way to access such need. What do you think of signs on businesses that don't have any English on them? I think signs that limit the potential for clientele are fine and up to the business owner. The market will sort out the viability of such signage. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it. I have in a few cases though it is sometimes difficult to tell if someone might be discriminating or just treats everyone they encounter in such a manner. I was told as a 10 year old child "You can't use the bathroom here boy" while stopping on a road trip going through Maryland. I didn't understand it at the time but I knew something was up from the hateful stares of the diner's patrons and staff. I was called a "Nigger" only once and that took place in Navy boot camp from a southern white hick. I was shocked and had the power to discipline him but was begged by many others to not boot his butt out of boot camp. He apologized and kissed up for the remaining 6 weeks. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? I can only speak to the violent looks and sneers that I will get from some tourists visiting Maui. I try not to focus on such things and I know that some of those looks are the everyday looks of those individuals. But I remember Gandhi's grandson speaking on nonverbal violence and the damage that it reeks upon people when it dawned on me just how much of this violence I had been enduring all my life. It is significant and it continues without confirmation. Most of my adult life I have worked on desensitizing my acute awareness of others and finding a better thought process when encountering what appear to be hateful, mean or otherwise nonverbal violent expressions. What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Where were you when you ate it? Ah, the raw horse meat in Japan is a classic story while with a Japanese business man that I befriended. A spicy hot giant sea snail in Nigeria. And, while in the Philippines I ate dog, cat and monkey meat, mostly without my knowledge and under the belief that I was eating chicken which was a rare and expensive meat in the area. What is your favorite ethnic food? I love Greek dolmas, Indian curry and Nigerian "peppa" soups. Black America's grits, greens and fried catfish! Oh, can't forget almost any food from Louisiana! Where do you live and where have you traveled where the culture was the most different from your own? I live on Maui in Hawaii, USA. I have traveled to some wonderful places outside the USA and all had their dramatic differences. Philippines, Congo, Nigeria, Indonesia had the biggest differences starting with language, food, local travel and disposition of the people. Each provided me with life changing exposure and I seek such new environments whenever possible. Do you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? I am pretty removed from culture of origin though black American culture is so very diverse from the low socioeconomic often stereotype promoted by many rappers to very middle class families like Bill Cosby's TV Huxtable family. I have participated in all and have a grasp of it all, but in Hawaii there is little of that culture and there is great diversity in culture here. Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Why not, if you haven't? Yes, I have traveled and lived in West Africa. While unknown as to the exact location of my ancestors it is widely held that my African roots began in West Africa. My first trip to Africa was to Nigeria where I was ceremoniously given an African name by a group of Ibo business men who suggested it was a good possibility that I was from their group. This was one of my most emotional moments in life that I cherish and recall often. "Chuwkuemeka" meaning "the Gods have been good to you" carries the spirit of Nigeria in his heart. What percentage of your friends are able to speak a language other than English? Many, but not most. In brief, describe your idea of a perfect world. Perfect? I think we will all eventually look Mexican as so many already have such looks around the world. This is a joke that a Mexican-American friend (Jorge) and I share though with a reasonable amount of truth. Without some huge variation in looks human nature will seek other differences to make a divisive world to one groups benefit and hopes of domination. In a perfect world we would all recognize that the power of the people comes from our diversity not our differences. We will recognize those who seek to divide as the enemy of the people and work to bring them back into the fold of love. We will understand that love is the answer to many of the toughest problems. Do you or did you ever wish that you were of another race? If so, why? There may have been times when I might have entertained such an idea and it would have been to be 'white', of course. Whites in America have dominated and benefited from their color because of institutionalized practices. However, I know that it is to my benefit and the world's that I have this personal experience of mine so that my gift to the world will have its own uniqueness and world benefit. Do you feel uncomfortable if you are a minority in a room full of people who are all of one race? No, because I am in a unique position of opinion, thought and perception that may be able to benefit the group. There were times that I was truly bothered by such but not often do I feel that way now because it has been a constant in my life over the years. Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? If so, why do you think you are? Absolutely. I speak of women specifically. The variations in beauty is breathtaking in this world. Not only in physical beauty but also in the beliefs and exposure to other aspects of relationships not practiced in America. I am attracted to those things I am not overly familiar with in this world. How did you feel about responding to this questionnaire? I found this questionnaire interesting and I will certainly spend time reading those of other contributors. Thank you for providing this opportunity. If you're interested in submitting your answers to us for consideration in our next issue, please click here. This website: Copyright © 2008 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.