The Derek Chauvin verdict yesterday was just one more step in a long road. If you remember, I told you about an event when I was very young, less than 10. I remember the trip, but only one thing about it. I can’t name the city where we went. I can’t name who we went to see. I don’t know how long we stayed. The only memory I have is a strong visual one of walking down a sidewalk along a street. I don’t know the name of the street, but I remember adult black people stepping into the street to let me have the sidewalk. I know now that it was one example of the effects of the Jim Crow laws. I didn’t know that at less than 10 years old. I remember asking my parents why black people would step out in the street to let me pass. I remember being told that I probably wouldn’t understand if I was given a reason. I remembered being told it’s just the way things are done here.
I know now that it was prior to 1951 when this happened because I turned 10 that year. It wouldn’t happen today. However, it is one example of the slow movement of one group of people towards full equality. Yesterday’s verdict is one more step down a very long road. I hope it doesn’t take another 70 years on this road to reach full equality.
