‘America was racist when I visited in the ’50s and it looks like nothing’s changed’

When we first went to the USA in 1958, my mother and I used buses to get around San Francisco to visit tourist spots and when we got on the bus any black person riding in the back had to get off (even if it wasn’t their stop) to let me and my mother sit down.

Coming from New Zealand where everyone was, and is, equal, this racist protocol upset both my mother and I. We found it heart breaking. The driver (who would normally be black) would ensure that we were seated no matter what. This wasn’t even in a southern state, this was California. Even at the tender age of eight, I used to get upset as I felt every person on the bus had a right to be there. I didn’t know what discrimination meant at that age, but I knew didn’t feel right.

We also travelled around the southern states of the USA where the racist policies were obviously a lot worse. There were ‘whites only’ signs everywhere. It was heart breaking then and it’s tragic that even today, 60 years on, discrimination still exists. Every person in the world deserves to be able to co-exist and not be troubled by heartless discrimination. The recent riots in the United States (and around the world) tells me the world hasn’t changed since I was a child even though it bloody well should have by now.

I find it sad that so many white Americans still harbour cruel beliefs about other races and haven’t embraced the country’s diversity. So many deaths could have been avoided if more people put their differences aside and renounced racist ideologies.

All life should be treated with respect and love, but that seems to be lost on many Americans. They don’t seem to realise that change must be made in their country now if they are to avoid anymore senseless deaths and years of national heartache.

Diversity and inclusion isn’t a pipe dream; it can be realised and everyone should try and be understanding of others and not let hate get in the way of treating another person with respect. If everyone showed respect to their fellow man maybe bad things wouldn’t happen so often.

It will probably take another generation for things to get better and I doubt that in my lifetime America will be whole again (mind you its been generations of hate, crime and uncertainty already with no end in sight).

I believe that every person should be honoured and looked after by their neighbours, friends and family. Maybe I’ve just seen too much hate in this world in my own lifetime to hold out hope for the future.