Alma, a very nice lady and friend from Oregon, suffers from joint problems the same as I do so we often visited about politics and other things while sharing the therapy pool in the park where we both live during the winter months.

One day Alma asked, “Are you going to vote for that ‘black guy?’ ” Somewhat startled by the question, I replied, “I assume you are talking about Barack Obama, and I plan to vote for him in November. After that, Alma and I were probably in the pool together at least five times before we both left for our summer homes, and each time she asked, “Are going to vote for that ‘black guy?’ ” Each time I replied as before.

To Alma, Barack doesn’t have a name. He is that “black guy” and that’s it. One time I asked Alma how she became prejudiced against black people, and she said, “I’m really not sure. My parents and relatives were not prejudiced against blacks, and I certainly wasn’t influenced by my friends. I think maybe I was influenced by TV.”

I feel sorry for Alma as she has many fine personal qualities. Yet, her personality is scarred by her hatred for black people. I can imagine what her grandchildren will say at a later time when showing family pictures to friends. “This is grandma Alma, and she hated black people.” I was walking down the street when Alma and her husband Fred were leaving for their Summer home in the mountains. Alma rolled down the car window and yelled. “Are you still going to vote for that “black guy?” I yelled back. “I’m voting for Barack Obama!”

George Hillberg

Austin