{Guest post from Matt Bell}
In my family, we have Black, White, and Brown skinned members.
I am light-skinned with an Irish background and a hint of my grandfather’s Jewish heritage from Poland. We live 3 hours from the beach and often load up the cars and head down there for a fun day trip. Along the drive, there are many signs. Signs promoting miles to the coast and the next gas stop. As we get closer to the beach we see more signs that start telling us about some specific information about the beach and where we can access it. Then finally as we approach the entrance to the beach we have many signs telling us the rules about what can and cannot be done while at the beach.
The particular beach we attend is located in a city and county line. One side of the imaginary line is ruled by the laws of the local city and the other by the county. There is a row of wooden piers dug into the beach that extends from the beach road all the way down to the actual waterline. On these wooden piers are many signs Signs such as “No dogs permitted. No campfires. Swim at your own risk. No alcohol. No overnight camping.” can be seen on the city side. On the county side, the signs read differently. “Pick up your cans and bottles. Dogs must be on a leash. Campfires must be extinguished completely after use. Overnight camping permitted.”
I sat there in my car with all the kids excitedly talking behind me as I contemplated which side of the imaginary line would be best for my family. No dogs and no alcohol on this side, dogs, and alcohol, and campers on that side. I choose the city side and we parked and set up our chairs and umbrellas for a fun day at the beach.
I sat in my beach chair watching the kids play along the beach while the county side of the beach filled up. Many other families stayed on the side where they could drink alcohol, set up for overnight campfires, and run their dogs. A few families joined us on our side.
As I watched my dark-skinned, brown-skinned, and light-skinned children play in the surf together, I started thinking. I took a mental time machine back 70 years to this same beach. At this same location, though the year was 1950, the water was the same. The sand was the same. The clouds were the same. There was one difference. The city and county piers both had signs that said, “No Coloreds Allowed at the Beach.”
I snapped back to the present day and looked at my kids. And I counted. 1-2-3-4-5. Five of my kids would be breaking the law by playing at the beach due to the color of their skin. All because of a sign. The only difference was the one sign. And I thought of the people who put the sign there in 1950. Then I thought of the people who in the last 70 years who had worked so hard to make the fundamental changes in our society. The addition of and the removal of a simple sign can mean so much in our society.
So I wanted to explain to my children and grandchildren that this bias and segregation existed and how it can slowly come back unless we stay vigilant. So I wrote a little story called The Rounders and The Tallers.
The Rounders and the Tallers is a tale of a town where its people have lost their way and separated themselves and the journey to come back together. While the adult leaders of two groups of people struggle to get along, it’s a little boy, in his innocence and compassion, that teaches the people how to forgive and unite.
Where one group slowly limits the freedoms of another based on their bias. And how through love and courage a true and new peace is attained and freedom is recovered.
Hello, my name is Matt Bell and I am a children’s book author. I am the father of nine very diverse children from all races and walks of life. I have a series of three children’s books about to be published (July, August, and November). All three are funny, illustrated, and deal with a particular social issue in which there is a conflict in the community and a resolution. They deal with topics such as segregation, access to services, and bigotry.
Raising nine children has given me a lot of time to learn to explain situations about life, guide, and more importantly listen to their thoughts and views on what’s happening in our American society today.
As the head “Teaser” and storyteller in the family. I would often find myself attempting to amuse the kids with stories while making a point about the current situation they were going through. Some of these stories made it to paper and some of those have made it to the publishing world.
Personally I love the beach, skateboarding, and in general having fun with my family. I thank God each day for the breath I am given. I hope you and the kids in your life can read, laugh, and talk about the interesting things that happen in these books.
Connect with me via my website.
