University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

Page 23 text:

“Another thing that I think about a lot these days is the whole black and white issue. I was fortunate in some ways when I was growing up. We lived in a place where there were no Negroes at all. I don't mean that was fortunate, but what I mean is that I never had any bad prejudicial experience. I simply had no experience of black people. I went to school in the South and saw some black people there. I was so out of touch with things that I didn't know what their situation was. I saw that they were laborers and servants. but I just assumed that was their job. I didn't make anything People are really threatened by Black Power. I don’t know what it is that scares them so much. All those people want is a chance to live with some dignity. of it. I was in college during the big Civil Rights movement, but I wasn’t really involved. It really wasn’t until after I was married that I came to realize that there was a problem. My husband was working in a town where there was an explosive ghetto situation. We got involved in a program to try to help suburban whites get informed and involved. I remember especially one meeting where a man got up and spoke out very courageously about the program to bus school kids into segregated neighborhoods. Nobody said anything at the meeting, but afterwards someone followed him and he was found later, badly beaten up. People are really threatened by Black Power. I don’t know what it is that scares them so much. All those people want is a chance to live with some dignity and to stop everyone from exploiting them. That's not so much to ask, is it? That experience really changed me. It opened my eyes to the way things are. Suburban whites are concerned only about themselves. They go to the church, but they’re not nice; they're not kind. I began to think what difference does all the stuff they have really make. So what if they have two cars and a nice house? The important thing is how you live your life — what you do with it. I understand people who are ready to go to jail, drop out, or leave the country for something they really believe in. It’s worth it. You might have to sit in jail and go through some horrible experiences and you would be a changed person afterward, but that's a lot better than killing people.” 19

Page 25 text:

 My husband and I scare our parents.” “I mean it. They're uneasy with us because they feel that they've somehow failed. They haven't instilled all of the old values. Not that those old values were all that great in my mind. My parents aren't all that scrupulous. They've never done anything illegal as far as I know but they have borrowed money, for instance, just to keep up appearances. They're so afraid they'll lose some of their things.” Sometimes I want things. Lots of times since I’ve been married I've wanted something we can’t afford. It bothers me and I pout or take a walk or something. I think about people who haven't anything at all or of people who choose not to have anything. I work it out. It's better not to have everything you want. If you have everything you're miserable and depressed. You've got no place to go because, you see, you could go any place. You own everything but the truth is that you don't even own yourself. “I'd like to see some things happen in this country. I’d like to see everyone with clothes and enough to eat. I'm sure if that happens then I'll have to give up some of mine. I'm ready to do that. 21