When I was in the Navy, the 80’s, being on base and off base made a big difference. Stationed in Meridian Mississippi, I had four roommates, two white, two black. After being there a while I was feeling brave about visiting town. I shared a cab with a friend, and we shopped at a mall. I was fresh outta boot, and I wanted a new pair of Jordache jeans. I put them on layaway.
When we got back, we were telling our friends the fun we had, and insisted they come along next time.
These were roommates, classmates, friends we sat with at lunch. One girl practically cried when she stated they don’t dare, because of their color. I ached. I told them they were thinking of the old south. “It’s the eighties.”
The other friend present described things which had happened recently to people who had left the base. The friend who had shopped with me swore with me we would stay on base and spend no money in a town like that. Okay, I had those jeans on layaway. I got them the last possible day, and kept them packed away until I was sent to my new base.
The Navy was strictly enforcing integration and acceptance. I still saw and heard things from time to time, but leaving base was so shocking wherever it was. Friends on base, would behave indifferent to me off base, to protect themselves from public ridicule and harm.
After service, I lived a bit in Baltimore. When I saw spray paint on an overpass, “we rape white women”, I got a chill, and had to keep in mind I was no longer living on base.
I went home one day with a girl I worked with, and met her sister. They both had daughters in the four year old range. They saw my waist long white lady hair, and instantly, there was twenty little brown fingers wriggling around behind my back. Both moms in unison told the girls to quit. I told them I didn’t care, kids should go with their curiosity. So then, my friend asked could she touch it. She and her sister both did. It was quite the gathering. All pretense was dropped, and we spoke our minds. It was cleansing.
I went home with quite the unusual hairdo. Them little girls really had fun.