Kori D. Miller - My Life in Black and White

My Life in Black and White:

A book of experiences

Copyright 2011, 2014 Kori D. Miller

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Back Porch Writer Press

Fremont, NE 68025

www.koridmiller.com

Printed in the United States of America

Edited by Larry Miller

ISBN 978-0-9914756-1-2

Second Edition

Blue Ribbons and Tomato Soup

W HEN I WAS IN COLLEGE , I took a composition course. The professor had us writing about all types of topics. By that time, I was comfortable with my racial identity. When asked, I would initially respond human. When I would get the deer in the headlight look in return, Id explain that Im interracial.

One of our assignments was to write a poem. Race was on my mind a lot. I dont remember why. At any rate, the poem I created focused on the numerous differences between people. In the end, though, I simply said we all have red blood and blue veins.

Blue Ribbons and Tomato Soup probably took me less than an hour to compose. It got tucked away into a bin somewhere and forgotten, but the title and sentiment has stayed with me.

I hope it stays with you. We are more alike than we are different. Find the similarities.

KDM

Fremont, NE

Dedication

For my parents and husband, who always have encouraged me to pursue my goals, and my children, who are a constant source of hope, laughter, and writing material.

And, for my friends who saw me through a few dark days. Thank you. - KDM

Grade School Lessons

T HERE ARE NO COLLEGE courses to build up self-esteem or high school or elementary school. If you don't get those values at a early age, nurtured in your home, you don't get them.

T. D. Jakes

First Crush

M Y FIRST CRUSH WAS a boy named James. He had blondish hair and glasses. It was 1st grade. That crush lasted until the 8th grade and survived a change in schools. I dont know what it was about him. He was simply the nicest boy I knew at the time.

When my parents placed me in a Catholic School for 1st grade, it took a lot of adjusting on my part. I came from a Montessori school. I did not understand the nuns and their strange rules. My 1st grade teacher assigned James to be my buddy. From that day on I was smitten. I still can recall him guiding me to my new seat in the classroom.

It was no secret how I felt about James. All of our school pals knew and teased us. His face turned several shades of red, but I remember how nice he always was. He never made fun of me for liking him. The fact that he is white never crossed my mind. The fact that Im not white never crossed his. Back then, no one cared. We were more caught up in the oh, he has cooties stage. We were simply friends. Its sad when you realize those days are gone.

I dont know what happened to James. I could probably find out in this day of Facebook and Twitter, but I dont know if I really want to know. Maybe, just maybe, preserving the memory of something so innocent and simple is a good thing.

Black Cats and Black-Clad Heroes

W HEN I WAS IN 1ST OR 2nd grade, one of our assignments was to color a picture of a cat. I dont recall if it happened to be close to Halloween. I colored my cat, handed it in and was very proud of it. Then, one fateful day, Sister Something or Other decided to share everyones pictures.

She held up picture after picture saying, Oh, look at the colors in this one! and, So and so stayed in the lines.

Then, I saw my picture. I dont remember exactly what she said. What I do remember is this: She held my picture up as an example of something ugly. I colored the entire cat black. I even stayed in the lines (something I rarely do as an adult!)

I love black cats. For years I thought, If I have a black cat, Ill name it Sheik. To me, the most beautiful animals are black. I love panthers (even though they actually have stripes or spots), domestic black cats and dogs, wolves, etc. If its black, Ill probably like it. I really dont know why. Maybe its because I associate black with a sense of mystery. I dont recall a time in my life when I thought of the color black as bad, ugly or evil.

Here is an interesting note: When I think about heroes created by our American culture, there are very few instances when the hero actually wore black, but when they did, I loved them! I adored Zorro, with his precise blade. Hop-A-Long Cassidy also was a favorite. Then, of course, there are Batman and Cat Woman. But, and this is a big but, when I was coming up, there were very few heroes who wore black.