In the 1980s, my family moved from Michigan to New Orleans, Louisiana, where I attended a predominately black school for 6th grade. In fact, I was one of only two Asians in the entire school.
Sure, I had kids stare at me, and a few teased me and made fun of my heritage, but I quickly made friends. Being the class clown helped me integrate into the new school, and I got into rap/hip hop music and breakdancing because of my classmates.
In the 7th grade, I went to another school that was also mostly black, but it had a few more Asian and white students.
Then in the 8th grade, I went to a predominately white school. And you know what was the difference between the black and white kids in my schools? Not a damn thing.
The middle schools I attended had the usual cliques, like the popular guys and girls, the athletes, the smart ones, and so on. All the kids did similar things, e.g., joke around, misbehave, have fun, love, and so on. We may look different on the outside, but we're all human beings.
The color of one's skin should not define who we are nor limit our potential.
The Best Of Enemies is about a little known event in American history that took place in North Carolina, 1971. A Klansman and a civil rights activist had to overcome their differences and work together after a fire damaged a black elementary school.
Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2, Richard Jewell) is another one of my favorite actors and plays a leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures) delivered such an outstanding performance; she should have at least gotten a Best Actress nomination.
What's most interesting about films like The Best Of Enemies and Imperium is seeing the mindset of white supremacists.
People learn racism. Imagine the positive impact on the world if all children were raised in nurturing environments to be kind and respectful.
From the abhorrent behavior displayed today in public and on social media by some people, it's obvious we have a long way to go, but I have faith that younger generations will do what's right to improve humankind.
When I was in high school and college, I had to read some classic books, but I don't recall reading anything about race. Educational curricula, including those in police academies, are due for a change. Of all the required literary works and films in academia, I believe The Best Of Enemies is a must-see in all high schools and colleges.
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