Satan, Master of Politics, World's Most Powerful Racist, and Leader of the TRP!: Inside the Mind of a Racist, and How He/She Can Affect World Democracies Everywhere

By Cal Warren Akers

About the book:
Where is your heart? Does it reside in the house of bigotry and hate, or in the home of selflessness and love? In all societies where racism and hate exists, there exists enormous chaos and divisiveness - The true banes that are capable of destroying any and all worldly societies. America, the "Shining city on a hill" and the most successful democracy in the world, is in desparate need of an operation. However, the only doctors capable of performing the operation successfully are the American people coming together as one. If we don't, we are destined to die on the operating table - relegated to the histories of fallen nations!
About the author:
Using myself when trying to understand the mind of a racist and what it takes to avoid becoming one, I've managed to become a better person. I believe anyone who is willing not to be racist can avoid being racist. Likewise, anyone who is a racist, through will can stop being one, and avoid the pitfalls normally associated. I am an American citizen who has lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania all his life. And except for the few years spent in Germany as a childhood Army brat, and the time spent overseas (Japan, Korea and the Philippines) in my 11-years as a U. S. Marine, my heart has always been with America, especially during those relative brief moments in time and space I was away. I we take to heart the old saying "It Takes a Village...," we come to learn the valuable truth in it. But we have to get over the neeed/feeling of self-worth.. as if we, ourselves, are more important than the other person, because we're not. We must accept the role we are destined to, which is to be "each other's keeper" which can/will enable us to move forward into the "More Perfect Union" our Declaration of Independence intimates so elequently! Together, we must be the "keepers" of American democracy, for ourselves and our posterity. I've found that when we put our minds to it, we can accomplish more in life than we can being divided. To do it, we must make racial bigotry and obsolete ideology.. show it for what it truly is - an unimportant and totally counterproductive way of existance!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pencil
• Release date: Jun 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9789356105669

Book preview

Satan, Master of Politics, World's Most Powerful Racist, and Leader of the TRP!

Inside the Mind of a Racist, and How He/She Can Affect World Democracies Everywhere

BY

Cal Warren Akers

---

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ISBN 9789356105669

© Cal Warren Akers 2022

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Author biography

My name is Cal Warren Akers. I've lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania all my life, except for when I lived in Germany during childhood, or in Japan (Okinawa) during my years spent in the U. S. Marine Corps. Of course, you don't truly understand racism until you're old enough to separate fact from fiction. In my early to late teenage years, avoiding facts seemed to make me feel I was in charge and better than others.  I was a racist and didn't even know it.  Today, with a better understanding of racism, I realize no matter what color you are, a racist is a racist!

Contents

Chapter One - The social bane called racism!

Chapter Two - The few and the proud!

Chapter Three - Only 2-ways to end racism!

Chapter Four - Making it work for everyone!

Chapter Five - Choosing to make a difference!

Chapter Six - May they only be rumors!

Chapter Seven - Racism, a mastery of Satan!

Chapter Eight - The loyalty and praise given to liars & Tyrants!

Chapter Nine - Bringing America together!

Chapter Ten - Getting to know your neighbor!

Chapter Eleven - Systemic, Never More Revealing!

Preface

    America has a long history of bigotry/racism in all areas of her democracy, and such has kept her from being the very best she can be. It's true that not all of the founding fathers of our great Republic desired to inculcate the awful banes of bigotry/racism and its' slavery into our democratic experiment. They did, nevertheless, upon reaching unanimous agreement, decide that gaining total independence and the establishing of a separate nation, were far more important than to confront, head on, the bigoted/racist afflictions that were sure to come from the inhumane practice of slavery, and the totally unfair discrimination it would foster. Today, we are governed by political parties that disagree on virtually everything, from economics to immigration and from climate change to the size of the government we should have. It's true that MOST Republicans prefer a smaller government which yields to less oversight, while giving MORE power to the states in all things. But over the decades, how has smaller government benefited the average American citizen? Has it laid an equally solid ground for the person of color, as it has for MOST White-Americans? These political parties claim to have the peoples' best interest at heart, but more times than not, their primary goal seems to be one of self interest, with only one of them actually showing any regard for the common folk, and our democracy!

    They are the same political parties that haven't figured out that winning isn't the most important thing when it comes to building a nation and progressively moving forward towards the reality of that more perfect union as set forth in America's Declaration of Independence signed some 240 years ago. They have also failed to figure out that all of them, Democrat, Republican and Independent alike, are being manipulated by the master of politics and the most powerful bigot and racist to ever exist. The same one who is the ruling force of this Worldly system of things. However, be that as it may, this master has fixed his sights on one particular Party, giving it the power to change the face of American democracy forever, and has placed at its head the nefarious vessel known as TRUMP, giving him a powerfully strong hand made up of especially house and senate Republicans, and an allied force of 'like-minded' individuals who share in his corrupt vision for America. Although he, Trump, has a strong hold on the Republican Party.. which I have dubbed the TRP (Trump Republican People).. its true leader, Satan, is the mastermind behind both their complicit and highly corrupt natures. And unless this Satan-inspired party is removed from governing power, the Republic will be lost along with the democratic freedoms it has enjoyed for some 240-years!

    In holding fast to the ideal that we are a Judeo/Christian democracy, we cannot lose sight of the fact that in many instances, we have conducted ourselves quite the contrary, as past and more recent events have clearly shown. We are currently a nation NOT morally governed by all sides but, instead, we are a nation somewhat ruled, immorally, by an alternative society backed by the full weight of a political party whose only real agendas are to make policy that the majority of the country don't agree with and backed by appointed federal and Supreme court judges, many of whom are far less qualified than most others but are more favorable to the Republican platform; and whose main goal is to make certain they remain in power, that they may continue, in unabridged perpetuity, with more of the same.

    As someone who believes in the Christian concept of religion, there are certain things I cannot abide done in the name of Christianity. Like when I hear people say to me that GOD sent America Donald Trump, and he becoming our 45th POTUS was made possible by HIS (GOD'S) Divine hands. However, as a democrat/liberal-conservative, there are things I do abide, even when many feel they violate 'true' Christian behavior – like transgender behavior, same sex marriage and/or the gay/homosexual lifestyle, as well as deliberate abortion as the ultimate choice by women who desire not to be burdened (for whatever reason) with the birth of an unwanted child. Why so? First of all, it's not that I believe such things are right, because I don't. For me, it all comes down to believing that GOD'S plan for mankind includes forgiveness and salvation for all who seek and desire it, as well as understanding GOD'S granting of free-will doesn't apply only to doing what is GOOD but to the BAD things as well. Of course, this will require a 'humbling' of ones self, relying more on what's good than on what is bad. It will require a 'meek' and caring attitude on the part of such people – something the 'hardcore' bigot/racist cannot bring him or herself to abide because of the 'false' strength they possess and the absolute power they so desperately crave. They constantly and consistently regard 'meekness' as a weakness, and seem to be incapable of understanding that true strength and power comes by way of meekness, not by way of a false, superior complex. When you think about it, America's history surrounding slavery was built upon the idea that Whites represented power, and the epitome of strength and superiority – whereas Blacks and others were the complete opposites, then using religion and Darwin, in many instances, as their points of understanding and proof, while at the same time missing the point Jesus spoke of, which Matthew wrote of thereat Matthew 5:5 saying, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth, not blessed are the Whites for they shall inherit the earth! It is the 'meek' who are the strong and powerful. They are the only ones who will survive the cruelty mankind has dumped from within and without the earth – and neither color nor ethnicity are dependent upon that!

    Today, with the mounting threat of White-nationalism spreading across the country (the world), this 'false' ideal creates increasing problems for all democratic societies throughout the globe. Right here in these United States, our own democratic Republic is being bombarded with the growing surge of this terrorist threat. Like many of the strong and powerful dynasties of the past such as the late-great Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 476/1453), the Akkadian Empire (2334 BC to 2083 BC), the Ottoman Empire (1299–1923), and all the other greats and mighty empires and dynasties that have long sense fallen to the memory of history, the United States of America (1787 – present), is rapidly moving towards taking its place among the 'once great world powers' that will soon be relegated only to the memory of history. That is of course, unless we as a people come together as a nation of inclusion instead of division. But it will take some heavy work. Our nation continues to suffer through the systemic and disgusting practice of racism, which has become even more open and perverse over the past several years, since Donald Trump was voted in as POTUS. Yes, the power of Satan is very vivid to me. And with the election of Donald Trump, made possible by the electoral college vote, it would appear that Satan's hand is very much in play, with Trump as 'Damien' and the majority of the Republican Party, Fox News and right-wing media acting as his army of demons, and together completing the 'Omen' positioned in what has been for a long long time the MOST powerful arm of the earthly kingdom – the White House!

    Obviously, 'Damien' is a fictional character depicted in the motion picture The Omen, but Trump is real and those who support him, despite what he says and does on a daily basis, they too are real, and are as much to fear as Trump himself. These people comprised of both racist and non-racist (primarily White) Evangelicals, the disenfranchised, conspiracy lovers, bigots and racists, continue to be more than willing to sell their souls on behalf of Trump, as long as Trump can deliver for them their greatest desires – regardless of the dangers he and his people (the TRP) pose to our democratic Republic. Trump's very dark and bleak inauguration back in January of 2017, was as a weather forecast, predicting an imminent storm just over the horizon. At the very start of his POTUS-SHIP, Trump, assisted by his many outside and inside minions, immediately went to work transforming the White House into his own personal kingdom. From day one, he commenced fulfilling one of his many promises made to those who voted him into office in November of 2016, which was to appoint as many judges to the courts as possible. Throughout his one and only term playing at POTUS, I came to realize that his desire to add judges to the courts, was less to do with Roe v Wade (or the Republican platform), as it was for his own nefarious plans. And it didn't matter how lacking in qualification they, the appointed judges were. As long as they met Trump's and his band of nefarious Republicans qualifications, they were appointed. He began trying to ban Muslim and various non-White countries from entering the United States of America – which made him very popular among the more anti-democratic and anti-immigration hawks across the country, especially with the more bigoted and racist of his supporting cast of misfits. However, that was only the beginning of Trump's plans. With the aid of his TRP and Republican minions, which also included his MOST willing and complicit media and propaganda outlets, Trump and his minions were able to put both the Constitution and Congress in a 'strangle-hold,' a necessary feat for someone desiring to be above the law and seeking the absolute powers that are craved by the more dictatorial mindset. In Trump's us versus them approach to governing, he has given the confederates one more chance to usurp an 'absolute' power, White-power, by trying to ban non-White immigrants from entering the country, topping it off by building a great big beautiful wall, as he called it, and stealing funds from the military in order to accomplish his vain and highly selfish, political promise made to his right-wing extremist voter portion of America.

    Before Trump's election, the country may not have been the best it can be, but it is for sure that Trump and his minions have made it a lot worse. There are more than just the ideas of 'some' who view (and openly say) they believe Trump was a great president because he fulfilled all of his campaign promises. Well, a considerable MORE Americans (even some in his own Base) believe him to be the absolute worst POTUS this country has ever had. I, too, share the latter belief, and I believe history will as well!

Chapter One - The social bane called racism!

    Racism and Politics, their beginnings can be traced as far back as to when the gift of 'free will' was first exercised for a selfish purpose. The angel, who later became known as the devil and Satan (most refer to as Lucifer), the one who grew jealous of GOD, hateful towards mankind, and puffed with pride, chose NOT to hold fast to GOD'S truth, but instead, chose the mantel of 'self rule' by means of politics and with an affinity for hateful governing. And those whom are blindly supporting Trump, even after being removed from his throne, despite all of his immoral and criminal acts, has remained as Jesus explains thereat John 8:44, saying You are from YOUR father the Devil, and YOU wish to do the desires of YOUR father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of [the lie]. By means of politics, he, Satan, persuaded one third of all the angels in heaven to follow him (Revelation 12:4) and, then, he turned his sights to mankind, causing the woman (Eve) to rebel against GOD, which enabled the man (Adam) to choose sides and, likewise, rebelled against the Most High GOD and thus because of Adam, the entire World became covered in all forms of sin to this very day. (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-21)

    Here, in the United States of America, we are part of a politically hateful society. At the very top of the current political chain, we represent the collective race, separated only by color and religion, and pulled apart by jealousy and selfishness, two of the main ingredients required for stirring up hatred and discord – The ingredients grown and made available by the true master of hate and discord.. Satan himself! But we are useless to Satan unless we are willing to commit our whole heart to him, whereby he is able to dictate the paths we move and making us slaves to his bidding. I was once such a slave to his powerful and destructive urges. But because of my willingness to change, I was able to release myself from much of what held me back, much of what holds so many of us Americans back today. I came to my senses as not to allow my many false views and hypocrisy to guide me in this never-ending journey.

A trip back in time.

    Are you someone White, Black or Brown, who goes through life looking at the world through a very stereotypical lens? This is one of the things I used to do when it came down to White people. It was once my false belief that all White people were the same.. that they would sell their own mother for a dime, they weren't to be trusted, and they were all racist. Not actually realizing that I was the one who was being racist and not worthy of any trust. Instead of paying close attention to my immediate surroundings, that is to say, seeing the goodness in White people right here in my hometown of Philadelphia, instead of relying solely on what I saw on the evening news, especially what was going on in those southern states, how Black people were being mistreated by those racist Whites, I allowed myself to develop in me the most 'ignorant' beliefs concerning White people. These stereotypical views about White people took hold of me from around early 1963 to April 1968. I can honestly say, this wasn't one of the proudest periods in my life. It was a period when I denied when some referred to me as a bigot or racist. I would mimic the words of certain professionals who tried to put racism and/or bigotry in categories by saying only White people can be racist or bigoted.. and that Black people could only be 'reactionary' to racism and bigotry.. meaning the hatred we (Blacks) came to show towards Whites was due directly from the racism and hatred White people showed against us, and that we (Blacks) were still the only true victims. Kinda made sense to me at the time, but later on, after a bit of soul searching and Bible reading, it started coming clear to me that allowing myself to believe such things [excuses] merely helped to strengthen any self-justification I had for hating Whites. Still, in a way, the experts made some good points. For centuries, Blacks had always been beaten down and mistreated by racist Whites, especially southern racist Whites! Over time, it's easy to discern it being natural for Blacks to grow in resentment for the ones most responsible for Blacks being held back, socially, economically and politically! That is, of course, until you see non-racist Whites willing to sacrifice their own lives in defense of yours. That's when I should have begun thinking differently, but I didn't.. even though I could see it on the news.. read about them in newspapers and magazines. Instead, I held tightly to the negative things that some (I say again, some) Whites were doing to Blacks. Lumping all Whites together and allowing myself to believe that was how they all acted.. that they all hated me – that they hated all Black people, or any other non-White people! So, I rationalized the situation by allowing myself to believe it was normal or right to hate all of them,.. after all, they all hate me, don't they?

    Despite how I felt about Whites as a teenager, in November of 1967, at the age of 18, I joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PAANG). Truth was, I actually wanted to join the Marine Corps, but the prospect of that didn't sit too well with my parents, especially my Mom. The thought of that literally terrified both of them.. you know.. with the war in Vietnam going on, they believed it was a sure bet that I'd be sent to fight and possibly die there. There was a lot of that going. Some of my high school buddies had already lost their lives to that war, and my parents weren't about to face that possibility with me. I could see how much my wanting to join the Marine Corps upset them, so to appease them, I relented to their wishes and joined the PAANG instead.

    My Uncle 'Walker' (Charles Walker Cobb), one of my mother's brothers, was with the the 111th Supply Squadron at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, located in Horsham Township, PA, and with a little coaxing from my Mom, not only was he able to get me into the guard but, also, he was able to get me assigned to his unit (the 111th) as well. So, on 16 November, 1967, I was sworn into the PAANG. On January 2nd, the following year, my uncle Walker picked me up to drive me to Willow Grove Naval Air Station, where I would board a 121-cargo plane to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas for Air Force Boot Camp training. My Mom and Dad went along for the ride as well for moral support and to see me off. It was during this journey that my racial ignorance was exposed right before my eyes, and I would be forever changed.

    It was early that evening January 2nd, 1968 that I arrived at Receiving on Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas. I was only one of about five Black and Brown people in the entire platoon of approximately sixty or seventy airmen recruits to be trained. And considering how I felt about White people, I'm sure you can imagine at least some of what was going through my mind. This was the very first time I had been away from home alone, away from the support of family and friends. Early on in training, I found myself thinking a lot about living in Germany, with my parents and four of my five brothers Theophalus, Joseph, Robert and Michael, and one of my two sisters, Joann, who was born right there in Germany. My fifth brother, David and second sister, Victoria, were born back in the states not long after my father's return from Vietnam in the early 60s. This is where much of my concentration went there in boot camp from day one. Thinking about those German boys I used to play with, fight and go to school with. It was a time when I didn't hate White people, because I didn't fully understand what was going on back in the states.

    I got along with the other Black and Brown airmen recruits except for one of them. He was a Mexican boy, around my age and he was arrogant as hell. I tried to get along with him, unlike with any of the Whites, but he seemed to really go out of his way to make that virtually impossible. He definitely favored the White guys, and he loved spending the couple hours of free-time we got on weekends with them. I have to admit, after completing Air Force Boot Camp in around the middle of February 1968, I didn't have much respect for Mexicans, and it wasn't just because of the one in my platoon who preferred to hang out with the White guys, instead of wanting to get to know me and the other Black airmen recruits a little better. It's true I resented that, but it was him saying, right to my face, that we (meaning Mexicans) have nothing in common with Negros, was the way I took it. That's what caused me to feel the way I did about him, and in general, how I began feeling about most Mexicans. I felt that he believed they were superior to Blacks – that he, personally, was superior to me! It angered me to the point of wanting to do great bodily harm to him.

    By the time boot camp was over, my racist feelings for Whites hadn't diminished one bit. In fact, they only grew stronger, and extended to Mexicans, due to my increased ignorance. Though historically educational, my visit to the Alamo out in San Antonio seemed to reinforce my dislike for Mexicans. Like the White racists I grew to hate, it was as if I had morphed into those I hated. I started feeling like I had made a big mistake by joining the Air National Guard, but I didn't want to let my uncle or my parents down, so I forced away any desire I had for giving up and becoming a disappointment in their eyes. Besides, if I had, it would be as if the racists were the winners – and I couldn't let them win, so I thought! After graduation, it was then on to Lowery AFB for Technical School Training as a Material Facilities Specialist – a technical term used for Warehouse & Supply!

    While en-route to Lowery Air Force Base which, by the way, is in Denver, Colorado, I couldn't help but think about those Marlboro cigarette commercials I used to see on television and listen to on the radio. That was because of the 'snow capped' mountains that came into view as our plane flew over them. Yeah, it was a beautiful sight, but my mind kept on thinking about the wild, White boys dressed up like cowboys, eager for a fight and guns blazing. But, I had happy thoughts too, like thinking this was the last leg of my 'away from home' journey, and in only eight more weeks, I'd be on my way back home, back to Philadelphia, with family and friends and other people I felt I could relate to.

    After landing, we were shuttled to one of the regular Air Force Dorms for temporary billeting. But after arriving, we were informed that several of the schools were not yet available – mine was one of those schools – and I would have to wait an additional eight to ten days before the next Material Facilities class opened up. Man, what a blow to my psyche. So disappointing!

The first few days, I did nothing but get up to shower, go to morning chow, afternoon chow and, then, evening chow and back to the dorm. It wasn't until around the fourth day that I happened to be looking out of one of the dorm windows, onto the lawn area below, when I saw something I found to be pretty strange at the time. There was snow all around the area, but there were about a dozen or so White airmen and women playing volleyball. But that wasn't the strangest part to me, it was the fact that they were dressed in shorts, no jackets or coats, just short sleeve shirts and shorts. You can imagine how much this supported my belief that White people were more than just a little deranged to say the least. I then called one of the Black airmen over to the window. I wanted him to take a gander at what I was seeing. He came over to the window, took a look and said What's so strange about that? What's strange about that, I replied? He answered, yeah, they're just having fun! That's when one of the White airmen came over to have a look. I remember him saying Shit, they do this all the time. It only looks like it's cold out there, but it really isn't. That's why they're able to wear short sleeves and shorts. I remember thinking to myself, 'not cold.. do you see all that snow out there?' I remember the Black airman saying we should go down and see for ourselves. At that, the White airman went back to his bunk (bed) and I kinda whispered to the Black airman, Look, I don't like being around White people. I don't trust or like them. He then said, Yo, this isn't about them, it's about getting out of this squad-bay for a little while. It's just something to do! I agreed (besides I didn't want to alienate myself from a possible friendship).. So, we put on our coats and decided to do just that. Sure enough, it felt as if it was about 50 degrees, but I later found out it was only 43 degrees. But it couldn't be, I thought, because back home in Philly, the snow would have melted down to nothing but water at 43 degrees. I learned the mountain air was very different from temperatures I was used to feeling back home. Anyway, it was getting pretty hot inside the coat I was wearing. So was the Black airman I was with. His coat was even heavier than mine. I understood why I took off my coat, I just didn't understand why I decided to stand around and watch them play volleyball in the snow. As I stood there watching, one of the females playing at the asked if I wanted to get in on the fun. I told her no thanks. Then several other Whites tried to nudge me on to join the game. But I kept saying no! I didn't want to interact with them. Still, I felt compelled to stand there and watch as they batted the ball back and forth for about 35 more minutes or so. Finally, I simply went back inside, and left them to their fun. The Black airman I was with decided to stay and watch a little longer. When I looked out one of the dorm windows, I noticed that he had decided to bat the ball back and forth too. This happened on a Saturday morning, lasting into the late afternoon before they finally called it quits. When the Black airman finally returned, he couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had playing volleyball. Curiously, I asked him what he thought about them.. the White airmen and women he played volleyball with? He told me they seemed real nice, not like many of the Whites back in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey. That's when I said, I noticed you said they weren't like many Whites back home, .. he then said, Yeah, I never said they were all nice, any more than they are all like the way you believe. I replied, Whatever, I don't trust or like any of them. They'll smile at you all day, but the truth is, I believe deep down inside, they're all a bunch of racist! He disagreed, citing all of the White people he had come to know, some he could really call friends, as well as those I had described. He then added, There's really a lot of good White people out there. I can't speak to your personal experiences, but from my experience, I know, personally, there's a lot of good White people in the world." Again, I disagreed with him, citing my own reasons for believing as I did. Yet, now, I can honestly admit they were stupid reasons, but back then, they were justifiable in my mind. Now that I think about it, even though airman Jackson (which later I learned was his name) didn't agree with how I felt about White people, he let me know that he understood how I could form such opinions.

    Anyway, like me, Jackson too was waiting for the next Material Facilities Specialist class to open up (so I assumed), and I just knew we'd probably end up in the same class. Having a friend to study with is always something good to have, I thought. But, as luck would have it, we didn't end up in the same class after all. In fact, his class wasn't even in material facilities.. it had something to do with food services if I remember correctly. But, as it turned out, having airman Jackson as a friend to study with wasn't the only benefit. Having him as a friend, would help me reevaluate my feelings about White people in a most unexpected and profound way.

The profound realization.

    It was a couple of days after our conversation that Jackson informed me that he had been invited to the Enlisted Men's Club.. you know, for a night of some relaxation, chit-chat and a few rounds of some 3.2 beer. Back then, that was the maximum volume beer you were allowed to drink under 21. He told me he could bring a friend and asked if I wanted to go? I asked him who invited him, or something like that.. and I remember him hesitating ever so slightly before he answered my question. He told me he was at the Base Exchange and ran into a couple of friends he knew back home. His slight hesitation troubled me a bit, so I just came out with it, Are they White, I asked? He replied, Yes, they're White, but I've known them basically all my life. Nevertheless, out of strong curiosity, I accepted his invitation, and that night we went to the club. The club was pretty crowded, but there was still plenty of room to move about and tables to sit. As we walked through trying to locate his friends, we both noticed an airman waving his arms and calling out to Jackson, over here.. Jackson!" I was sure he was one of the friends he told me he met from back home at the BX. He could see I wasn't the least bit happy, but rather than make a scene, I followed him over to the table where they were sitting. At the table were two others.. a Black guy and a Puerto Rican. Neither one of them were airmen but were friends of the two White airmen friends of Jackson. When I first saw them up close, I got the feeling I had seen them before. I didn't know from where, but I was sure I had seen them before. I was right, I had seen them before. The two White guys just happened to be of those I saw playing volleyball several days earlier on Saturday. A detail Jackson failed to mention at the time I asked him if they were White. Pretty early into our night out for fun, I learned that the two White airmen were themselves from Newark, and the Black and Puerto Rican guys were their friends and lived in Denver. If I remember correctly, Jackson's two White friends were there at Lowery AFB for school as well, but they were regular Air Force, and I think they came in on the buddy system. I believe they were already in their third or fourth week of school. As far as their Black and Puerto Rican friends from Denver, to be honest, I didn't even know Black people lived in Denver, Colorado.. more or less Puerto Ricans. Well, maybe that's not quite true.. but I sure didn't expect their kind of friendship. Back home in Philly, it just wasn't that common to me.

    All the students had a 10:00 PM curfew, which meant we had to be back to the dorm by that time. It was around 8:15 or so when four females came into the club and sat down at a table close to ours. The way we were seated, gave us a clear view of each other. There were three White females and one Black, and they were all looking our way. One of the White females at the table I remembered right off. She was the one who first asked me if I'd like to join in the volleyball game they were playing that Saturday morning.. the same game airman Jackson stayed around and joined in himself. She got up from her table and started walking over to ours. She knew one of Jackson's friends sitting at our table, and remembered Jackson from the Saturday volleyball game. She said hello to the White airman and Jackson and, then, kinda boldly introduced herself to me and the other two sitting at the table. I remember, also, a particular record that had just started playing, Does Your Mama Know About Me by Bobby Taylor. And with everyone else sitting at the table, she looks at me and asked if I'd like to dance. I hesitated at first thinking.. why me? My little hesitation prompted her to say to me, You're not afraid to dance with me.. are you? while at the same time taking my right hand and pulling me up from my seat. Looking back on that particular moment, I can't positively say if there was one singular thing that caused me to accept her dance invitation. Perhaps it was to prove to her that I wasn't afraid to dance with her, or because of the horny feeling I had at the time. After all, she was pretty, and looked awfully good in the tight-fitting pants (maybe Jeans) she had on. It could have also been due to (what I considered at the time) the unusual dark complexion I wasn't used to seeing on White girls, except for maybe after spending a day at the beach in Atlantic City. And she did have really smooth and beautiful skin. Or, it could have been for the reason I came to believe later on.. that through some divine intervention, GOD Himself was bringing me to realize what Jackson had told me was true.. not all White people in America (in the world) are racist. But that belief would come to fruition later on. For right then, I'm sure it was probably anything and everything to me but the idea of a divine intervention. More likely it was my need to prove something to myself, and to her, to all White people in general, that I was just as important as they are. As we continued to dance that first time, the only thing I knew of her was that her name was Cathy. So, I asked her questions, she asked me questions, and we learned some things about each other. For instance, I learned that she and her family were originally from Boston and decided to move to Denver in September of 1957. Then, she said something that really caught me off guard. She told me she joined the Air Force in 1966, and was currently a airman second class or something.. I don't know for sure, but she could have told me she was a general and all I'd still probably remember only the year she joined – 1966! I said to her, 1966? She replied, yep, 1966! I'm sure you can figure out what my next question was. You guessed it.. how old she was! She said with a smile on her face.. I'll be 21 in July (1968). I said, 21?.. you sure had me fooled. You don't look more than about 17 or 18. She asked me how old I was? I told her I just turned 19 on the 15th of this month (February). Once the record finished playing, we both started back to our respective tables, only by that time, the guys had arranged it so that their table was right next to ours.. the tables in the club weren't large enough to have more than four or five chairs at a time. We conversed, played pinball and pool until almost curfew. Then, it was back to our temporary housing in time for roll call.

    It was hard to explain, even downright aggravating, but for some reason I couldn't get Cathy off my mind over the next few days. Then, it was the weekend again. It would be the final weekend spent at the temporary housing dorm because that Saturday our orders for school came down, and we were to report for class that following Tuesday at 0800. On Monday, we were assigned to two-man dorms for the remainder of tech school. But, and I can't remember what happened, I ended up with a dorm-room to myself. I don't remember if they got the assignments messed up or what, but I wound up with a room to myself throughout tech training, which was a little short of 8 weeks. The first week of tech school was very aggressive. That is to say, the instructors went through various job descriptions and requirements almost at light speed. This was done on purpose to determine how much information we could retain. The following Monday, we received our first test. Those of us who studied over the weekend did pretty well. Those who didn't.. well.. you can imagine the disappointment and embarrassment they felt when the instructor call out their names. I was one of the embarrassed.. but I learned a good lesson – study or fail – the instructor's message came over loud and clear. Isn't it kinda funny when people cause bad things to happen, they get angry when it happens? That was me.. I didn't take studying serious that first week.. and got mad when I was exposed in class. Live and learn I say.. and I would go on to learn a great deal in tech school.. but nothing compared to what I'd go on to learn about life.

    After what I considered to be a disaster of a week, the following week was much more positive and productive. As I headed