Plymouth Magazine-Summer24-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 13
Nobody had yelled a racial epithet at me.
Nobody had struck me. But the mere
indirectness of the manager’s words, the
things not said, the dismissive gesture of
his thumb, all of it wielded the power of
a curse, and a fist in the face.
I Am From...
Even worse, the incident exposed my
sense of ‘whiteness’ as a pitiful illusion. It
reinforced the message I had already been
telling myself; I was different, a less-than,
a problem.
I am from the four-square white house on the edge of town (the one with the big porch).
Though I learned some grim lessons
as a youth, I have not had a troubled,
incapacitating adulthood. To be
sure, I have had ups and downs;
some of those downs stemmed from
occasional encounters with racism and
discrimination. But, fortunately for me,
the following happened in my lifetime:
I am from Gladiolus, many colored, reaching for the sky,
Civil rights,
Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Brown power,
By Beverly Burns
I am from a vegetable garden—marking in straight rows, potatoes to popcorn;
From eating tomatoes, sun-warmed and deliciously salted.
I am from Pillsbury cake mix and Electorlux sweepers—Mom—thrilled with labor-savers.
Safe—loving—warm.
I am from the dry-cleaning plant on Main Street.
(The smell of dry-cleaning fluid still stops me in my tracks.)
Dad-tended—where did he find the time?
I am from Christmas Eve—children laughing, opening presents;
The story read around the circle with piano accompanied carols
“This is what Christmas is really about.”
I am from teasing and hugs.
I am from Homer and Lillian.
From talkers—the Sunday school superintendent and trustee chair;
And doers—the nursery and kitchen manager (guess who was which!)
From canning jars, rabbit hutches, and from, “Wash the back of your neck.”
Cesar Chavez,
A fruitful career in human services,
Love,
From, “God sees all that you do,” and Sunday night popcorn, apples, and fudge.
From German stoicism and Swedish humor.
From pot roasts and potato salad.
Children,
I am from, “Shake a leg up there; it’s time for church.”
Theatre,
Grad school,
Teaching,
Acting, directing, writing,
Becoming a deacon at Plymouth
Church…
…and a moment when a friend said
something with simple graceful power:
“I dedicate this dive to you.”
About the Author
Beverly “Bev” Burns has been a member of Plymouth Church since
1991. She has been serving as a Stephen Minister for 25 years. She
loves caring for this beloved community through this ministry.
About the Author
Lorenzo Luis Sandoval has been a member at Plymouth for 22 years.
He is currently a Plymouth deacon, is the Artistic Director of the Iowa
Shakespeare Experience and a college professor who engages regionally
in professorial and theatre work across many states. Lorenzo received
his MFA from University of Iowa Playwright’s Workshop and
is the former Director of Diversity for the Iowa Department of
Cultural Affairs. He has three children, four grandchildren, and is
married to Plymouth member Robin Heinemann.
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