The Voice of Mr. D 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 D. Davis had to say... Name: D. Davis Age: 53 Occupation: Webmaster Birth Place: Pennsyvania Residence: Pennsyvania Mothers BirthPlace: Alabama Maternal Grandmothers Birth Place: Alabama Maternal Grandfathers Birth Place: Alabama Fathers Birthplace: Alabama Paternal Grandmothers Birth Place: Alabama Paternal Grandfathers Birth Place: Alabama Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? Yes I do and why not. Would your parents object to you dating or marrying a person who was of a different race than you? My parents did not because adults have to make their own decisions. What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? The American workplace is tough on all minorities and I feel it should be monitored to protect us. What do you think of signs on businesses that don't have any English on them? Well if you can't read it then they don't want your business. It should not be allowed. Like the "whites only" signs. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it. I just was. I was passed over for a new position twice. The first time they gave it to a part-time person and I have over 20 years of experience. The second time they said the other person had more supervisor experience. I have trained and supervised hundreds of people. I have been working here longer than the other person has been alive. He was never a supervisor at all. He told me himself. Also, his last job his supervisor drove him to a nervous breakdown. Both of these people are white and everybody else here can't believe they didn't give me either position. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? The above was the latest and I have to deal with that same mentality everyday. I'm glad I have only four and a half years to go. What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Where were you when you ate it? The most unusual and worst thing in the world is gator. They served it with grits at a local place. Please do not try it. If you know somebody that you really hate tell them to try it. What is your favorite ethnic food? I eat a lot of ethnic foods and soul food is my first choice. Where do you live and where have you traveled where the culture was the most different from your own? I live in central Pennsylvania and have lived all over the U.S. I went to Cancun a few years and that was a real cultural experience. I found out the hard way that a single black man is asking for trouble if you go there alone. If not for my skills from the hood in Youngstown, Ohio I would never have made it back for a few years. Do you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? That is a very good question. You see after all these years growing up poor and Afro-American just in the last few years we have come to realize that our grandparents on my mother's and father's side were full blooded Native Americans. That is why we are doing a lot research into our family history now. With that said, it is part of the reason I have created www.CulturallyCool.com. To help people connect to their culture and show their pride. Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Why not, if you haven't? If we are right about our grandparents then I feel I just need to find out what part of this country they lived in. In brief, describe your idea of a perfect world. One that is culturally cool. No cowboy president. No country music. No REDNECKS. No hate. Do you or did you ever wish that you were of another race? If so, why? Never, I'm proud to be different from others and strong enough to stand tall. Do you feel uncomfortable if you are a minority in a room full of people who are all of one race? I used to get that feeling at times but now I just represent and show to others that they need not to be afraid of my presence and I show no fear of theirs. Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? If so, why do you think you are? Beautiful people come in all shapes and colors. Only a fool would deny what their eyes are straining to get a better look at. How did you feel about responding to this questionnaire? Very good questionnaire and I hope others will find what I've said of some interest. If you're interested in submitting your answers to us for consideration in our next issue, please click here. This website: Copyright © 2007Dream 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.