New York is an extremely exciting place, especially for us history buffs. New York was the site of the French and Indian War, a major player in the War for Independence, and a huge contributor to the war efforts of the 20th century. More importantly, it was the birthplace of many religious and social movements of the 1840's. The first Negro Conventions were held here. The first convention for Women's Rights happened in Seneca Falls. The two movements, Abolition and Women's Rights, often joined forces. Frederick Douglas was at Seneca Falls on July 20-21, 1848 and signed the Declaration of Sentiments. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints began in Palmyra. The Shakers had an enormous center at Albany. New York has always been a state that embraces change and welcomes progress.
However, on this trip I personally embraced nostalgia. My husband and I slept at Red Roof Inns (not very fancy but always clean and utilitarian) and we ate at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. On the first night of our grand tour at dinner in the Cracker Barrel in Binghamton I noticed an African American family consisting of Grandma, Mom, a daughter of about 11, and a son of about 14. The ladies wore dresses and discussed a business in which they both seemed to be involved while the little girl played with the ubiquitous travel puzzles. The young man had his ears plugged with IPod buds and looked very different from the rest of the family tableau. He wore pants that strayed below the rim of his boxer shorts and a head dress often referred to as a do-rag. He displayed much "bling-bling" and that certain loose jointed body language that says "I am a thug." I found him interesting because he contrasted so sharply with the rest of the family and because he resembled so many of my students. A waiter came to take their orders and all of the ladies ordered the Campfire Chicken and Pineapple salad. The boy, on the other hand, ordered meatloaf, fried okra, macaroni and cheese, and fried apples. When his food arrived he polished it off in record time and then asked his grandmother, "Nanny, why don't you cook like this?" Nanny answered, "You would weigh 500 pounds if I cooked like that and do I look like someone who has the time to cook?' She was right about the 500 pounds and she really did not look like someone who had the time to cook the kind of meals this child wanted. While I understood her point completely, and empathized with her to a large extent, I could not help but feel that we have cheated our children in many ways. This young man was looking to the past for comfort and seeing it as a "kinder and gentler time" as many of us do. He is right. Food tasted better when we ate what the country produced, in the country. Sister Cook up at camp produced some amazing meals. My Aunt Julia in Peeksill taught me the delights of cold cereal with fresh blueberries in the summer. However we were more active as a country in those days and we did not eat processed foods so we could consume a great deal more.
At the same time, this young man, like many youngsters, must rely on TVLand for his view of history. This is indeed cheating him out of a perspective on the reality of America. Ask any teenager who Martin Luther King was and he will tell you that he was involved in civil rights. Then ask him what civil rights are and I promise that you will be disappointed when he is unable to answer. In order to understand the world we live in now, we must examine out past. I highly suggest a road trip north as a beginning. More on our travels as the summer goes on.
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