Day 356 Then and Now

November 30, 2015

(If we live with an open and grateful attitude, every day will bring a gift. This is one of 365 gifts during the year I turned 70.)

Charles and Fayette Streets, 2015. The word democracy appears on the marquee on the left.

Charles and Fayette Streets, 1954. Baltimore Gas and Electric archives on the Baltimore Museum of Industry's site. http://www.thebmi.org/portfolio/hoopers-restaurant/

I grew up in Baltimore City, lived in a segregated neighborhood and went to a segregated elementary school. After the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision, I went to integrated Woodbourne Junior High and Eastern High. At Frostburg State College, I was selected to participate in a special seminar/research class. Work on my self-chosen research paper in 1964, An Abuse of American Justice, introduced me to CORE and SNCC. Before the introduction of personal computers and the Internet, I had to type my final paper. This was ten years after school integration and there were only two black students at Frostburg, and both played on the college football team. I began attending a hidden black church in Frostburg and sometimes played the piano during services.

Today, prompted by a Baltimore Museum of Industry photo contest, Then and Now, David and I drove around Baltimore to compare city scenes now with photos from years ago. I took several photos today but earlier I had photographed a scene at Charles and Fayette Streets, location of Hooper’s Restaurant and the scene of a 1960 sit-in protesting segregation in public places. Black student protesters were refused service, refused to leave and were arrested. The case was appealed and ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court.  

Now in 2015, Hooper’s no longer exists, public places are integrated and the pace of life has quadrupled. From current news and protests today, it is obvious that we still have a long way to go regarding civil rights but history has taught me that positive change does happen. My wish is that it will not take another 50 years.

My gift today is a sense of history.

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Baltimore Museum of Industry

Day 357: Time

You can find links to my other posts on this project here:
http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html

              

Day 134 The Wisdom of Fortune Cookies

April 22, 2015

(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)

After a day filled with chores, medical check-ups and scheduling further medical appointments (all routine), it was a pleasure to spend some time with Troy at New Beginnings Barbershop. His shop is not only a barbershop but an art gallery too. The purpose of our meeting today was to discuss details about the opening of a group exhibit I’ve put together with members of my photography group, Creative Exposure Baltimore. 

Just five minutes away, about 1 ½ miles, a protest was happening over the death of Freddie Gray which followed his April 12 arrest. It has become yet another incident concerning white police officers and black men. Before we started talking about the exhibit, we watched live news on television showing the protesters. I kept shaking my head and thinking, It is crazy that this is happening in 2015. I was eight years old when Brown versus the Board of Education resulted in desegregated schools in 1954. I was 23 during the Baltimore race riots in 1968.  I am 70 now. Why is this happening now? If anyone had told me in the 60’s that race relations would still be a problem almost half a century later, I would have told them they were crazy. Yet, I have seen white prejudice, often veiled but very much with us today.

I must remember, however, that my 365 project is about gifts. What gift did today bring? I opened a fortune cookie tonight after eating at the Szechuan Cafe near my home. My fortune read, “The time is right to make new friends.” I thought about how at Sowebo Festival (Southwest Baltimore) a few years ago, I wandered into New Beginnings where a handsome, middle-aged African American man was standing. The light from the window fell on him in a way that compelled me to take a photo. After asking him if it was okay, he smiled and said, “Sure.” This was Troy and I later sent him the photo. Since then we have been friends. I admire his love of people; I respect his vision, good sense and taste in art. The time was right then to make a new friend. It is always right. And it is time for our society to create a new beginning.

My gift today is a valued friendship in the middle of insanity.

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Day 135 Heinz Ketchup

You can find links to my other posts on this project here:

http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html