Lecture Thoughts

I better post this before I forget to write down my thoughts.

I went to a lecture today presented by an Assistant History Professor that covered the Civil Rights and Childhood. At first I was like okay, Civil Rights Stories, that sounds interesting. I've always had an interest in civil rights, I seriously think I knew Martin Luther King, Jr. before I was born. Dead Serious.
The lecture was really interesting and helped open my eyes to the purposes of an educational institution and how important it is for every child to be educated. It also shed light on the perspective of White Adults in the South during that time. So let me share what I've learned.

First off, did you know that there was a document written called, The Children's Charter in 1930 that stated that every child REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ETHNICITY is allowed to have a childhood? I didn't and I found it amazing.

Integration vs. Segregation. Did you know that the children that were involved in this issue supported Integration? They didn't care about the races of other children, they just knew it was another child and they adapted very quickly to their knew friends. Studies and journals PROVE that. So where did the fault lie? Why was there so much racism and tension? THE PARENTS. And why the parents? Because of THEIR PARENTS. Do you remember in the Book of Mormon that issues and tensions between different peoples originated because of the "traditions of their fathers"? That is exactly what the Brown vs. Board of Education and Integration/Segregation, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and every other thing associated with the Civil Rights was linked to. Generations and generations of parents who taught hate, who poisoned the minds of their children to hate others and to place themselves superior to others because of their skin color and because they were DIFFERENT caused hundreds if not thousands of CHILDREN to be murdered and killed on the streets. What were those children trying to do? Get an education. They wanted to be smart, they wanted to learn to read, they wanted to learn how to develop their social skills and just wanted to have fun. They were entitled to the rights of childhood regardless of race or color but White parents thought they were corrupt. They thought black children were mean and would harm others, vicious animals who couldn't control their lusts. Yes, white people said that about children.

So here's the point I'm trying to make. A child is a child regardless of race, color, ethnicity, handicaps, and social status. A child wants to be loved, to be educated, and wants to experience the joys of being innocent. Do I hate white people for being cruel? No. Do I hate their progenitors who established racism and slavery? No. But what I do hate is the continuation of racism. I still see white people talking about those in "nigger town", I see white people afraid to talk to black people because they are different and are scary and I still see white people blaming black people for all the crime in the world. I testify to you that they are people found equal in the sight of God. What makes a difference in crime rates and social status is an education. If you get all of the juveniles and adolescents into schools instead of on the streets you will see a decrease in crime rates. And I believe this because, when one cares enough to educate himself, he takes pride in himself. He won't do those things that cause him to regress. He's sacrificed on his own free will to get an education. Better yet, teach a man the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he will see the world in a different light. I testify of that in the name of the perfect judge of all men, even Jesus Christ, Amen.