<p><strong>To the editor:</strong></p><p>’Bout the same as me.</p><p>I grew up thinking everyone was ’bout the same as me</p><p>Two brothers and a sister and a black and white TV;</p><p>Lived with family all around us, had no notion we were poor</p><p>Food always on the table, no wolf knocking at the door;</p><p>My mother she taught English, Dad a teller at the bank</p><p>Though we never had much money, we had plenty to give thanks;</p><p>My Mom was educated, expected nothing less of me</p><p>Required to do my homework, before watching Andy Griffith on TV;</p><p>Chores always a requirement, hard work a constant aim</p><p>Learned the value of a dollar and saving for a day of rain;</p><p>Taught that we were all God’s children, with parents always went to church</p><p>Family, God and Country were ’bout as much as all was worth;</p><p>Financial struggles as a family, instilled in me a will to rise</p><p>But knew how near or far life takes me, always treasured in God’s eyes;</p><p>My brother Jason a ball player, played ball with Jason Hughes</p><p>My friend’s name was Marlin, always certain to amuse;</p><p>They both came from black families but seemed about the same as us</p><p>Never saw a difference in good friends we love and trust;</p><p>Used no bad word for a black man, nor allowed a racial slur</p><p>Our family loved and honored neighbors, as yes some black they were;</p><p>Not till college did I hear that word racist ever used</p><p>I had trouble comprehending that there were people still abused;</p><p>Learned our nation’s hateful history was still the life that some still knew</p><p>But did not think much about it, ’cause for me nothing was askew;</p><p>Lived most of my adulthood thinking we were always gaining ground</p><p>That those people still complaining just liked to make a noisy sound;</p><p>Then with the world I watched in horror, and we all began to seethe</p><p>Watched the killing of a black man who was not allowed to breathe;</p><p>How for twenty dollars could any man be dead?</p><p>No longer blinded to the plight of those who live a life of dread;</p><p>We must be forever changed by what we were all appalled to see;</p><p>Must always look at others knowing he’s ’bout the same as me.</p><p><p><strong>R.J. McConnell</strong></p><p><p><strong>Franklin</strong></p>
