Come Together

      This is an advertisement series for Shaq's new shoes. This 1 minute-long fun little banter-filled clip is pretty cool, at first. Just a bunch of guys in the barber shop, discussing basketball legends. The men happen to be African American. Then in walks a white guy dressed in the basic 1970s high school basketball attire, complete with knee-high socks and a sweatband around his head. The men around him silence completely and he offers his opinion on who was, in fact, the best of the best in basketball. The shop unanimously continues to throw him out of the barber shop.

      I'm not saying the advertisement is racist. I'm saying I think it is an unfortunate problem we still face in America where all races can't come together and stand together equally. What could be read in this advertisement is that white people have no business with black people and vice versa. That we can't all share experiences together. Sure, it's "just a shoe commercial," but it says a lot of things. Big things.

      What I mean is that it is important to continue to move forward in this fight for equality. The nation of African Americans and allies fought too long and too hard for there to be a hint of segregation in this day and age. Spreading messages like this already sets a tone for mistreatment and separation. We split ourselves away from each other naturally because of continuous messages like this one.

      But I'm challenging that what if we were to stand as one. Sure, we have vastly different stories and histories, but isn't it worth learning from each other and moving forward together? Not putting it in the past and leaving it there, but learning from the past. So that there  can be a common ground for all humans. No matter the color. No matter the gender. No matter the orientation, sexuality, religious beliefs, etc. What if the 21st century is a time when that actually happens? Where we don't have advertisements treating any race, gender, sexuality, (etc.) better than, but we all stand as one. I think it's worth trying.

      Sincerely,
Mary Taylor