Over the past fourteen months, Thomas Marsh and I have been diligently pressing forward with the message and conversation sparked by our Black and White Like You and Me book. This definitely has been a labor of love and commitment. Although we have received rave reviews in writing (see them on Amazon) and in person, we have often wondered what impact we truly have been making.
Invited to a book club…
We were invited to discuss our book at a book club in Royal Oak, Michigan, a heavily populated white area. We expected a handful of older white women who wanted to be entertained for the evening. Fighting human nature and older age, both Cookie and I were not that excited about attending especially when it did not begin until 8:00 p.m. I was going to miss Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
One of our principles as we began this journey of spreading the word about race relations was that we would never really know whom we touched or where this message would travel once it left our lips. No matter speaking to one person as we did at the Hazel Park Library presentation or speaking to any future packed house, we would present with one hundred percent effort and enthusiasm.
“How do I speak to black people?”
Last summer, at the end of our presentation at the Bloomfield Township Public Library, a very sweet white woman named Barb stopped us and asked a very curious question, “How do I speak to black people?” Cookie spoke up immediately and stated, “Just like you would speak to white people.” This answer, seemingly simplistic, reflected one of Cookie’s pet peeves about whites: “fakin’”. White people who seem fake and awkward in their encounters with blacks become suspicious and not sincere or honest or trusted. Upon further reflection over the past months, Cookie and I came up with what that woman was really asking. She did not mean how to talk to blacks but where to meet them in order to talk to them.
Meeting Barb again…
Man, were Cookie and I wrong about the book club. By the time everyone had arrived, the living room was packed with blacks and whites, women and men. Two book clubs had been arranged to be at this home in Royal Oak that evening. And there, beaming from the chair across the room was Barb, the woman who had asked that question at the Township library. I will conclude this blog with the amazing thank you note that Barb sent us:
Dear Tom and Tom,
Thank you so very much for an unforgettable Book Club experience. Your gracious willingness and thoughtful, genuine manner are so appreciated. You started something last night. Plans are initiated to meet with our new Book Club friends and discuss a common book later this year. There are also rumors for a recipe exchange… So, thank you for helping us connect and share a common experience . . . all because of your book. May your lights continue to guide you both to amazing places.
Sincerely,
Barb
Do you have a book club? We’d love the chance to meet you. Be sure to contact us about a possible book signing and conversation through the Events Page.
