Regarding Felita Donnell's letter to the editor Aug. 15 about the picture of Rose Lawson enjoying watermelon on her front porch (local section, Aug. 10), my only conception is that Ms. Donnell apparently never enjoyed watermelon on her front porch or any other place for that matter.
In a well-written and photographed story, Rose Lawson is beautiful; she was having a wonderful time with her family, sitting on the porch enjoying summer's most delicious food. My four sisters and I recently decided the next time we cut a watermelon, we'd sit on the porch or in the yard and spit the seeds on the ground and let the juice run down our arms just like we did 60 or more years ago, and we're "white folks." These family times and your human-interest stories about them help push aside "concerns for the larger issues in the world" for just a little while.
Barbara Collins-Golding
Reidsville
Comments (7)
When we were growing up, over 50 years ago we sat outside in the summer time and ate watermelon and spit the seed onto the ground. My Brother, Sister and I would sometimes see who could spit the seed the longest distance, the jucie would run down our arms and chins. We are as Ms. Barbara Collins-Golding says in her letter "white-folks". To this day I still too like to eat watermelon this was.
Posted by Pam Stanley | August 22, 2005 8:27 AM
When I saw that picture in the newspaper I saw a little girl enjoying a wonderful summertime treat, as I and millions of little boys and girls across our country have done for decades.
I was saddened when some readers made it into a racial issue. It cheapened the whole experience.
Posted by John Appel | August 22, 2005 11:47 AM
I found the photo of the little girl eating watermelon precious. Only someone with a background in racism would see it otherwise.
Posted by Tony | August 22, 2005 8:59 PM
I admit that the picture of the black girl eating watermelon is a reminder of ugly stereotypes of the past. I remember Bull Durham posters that made fun of black people from way back when. It is sad that those pictures still haunt some of us and that a simple act of enjoyment can't be enjoyed simply. May God forgive us for the acts of the past and heal us so that we don't continue those actions in the future.
Posted by truth | August 23, 2005 10:46 AM
Yep truth, and to add to the healing one has to let go of the past. Unfortunately there are those who call for healing but never allow the past to be let go of. It is a way of maintaing control. Unless they have a group of people to control by continually digging up past wrongs or preceived wrongs then they have no control and therefore no power.
Until folks let go of the past they will never be free.
Posted by mrproduce | August 23, 2005 11:32 AM
"Until folks let go of the past they will never be free."
....tell that to the folks down at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission....
Posted by bubbanear | August 23, 2005 5:42 PM
How happy and excited Rose must have been to have her photograph in the newspaper. Just eating crisp, cold watermelon on a hot August day and being a little girl. How sad and confusing to have something innocent and pure made ugly.
Posted by sherry | August 23, 2005 10:08 PM