"If you are encouraged to mix freely when you are young, your life will be far fuller and more colourful as you live through it. Your values will be more naturally defined in your youth and expressed in your old age.
Racism is not a characteristic one is born with; it is learned and reinforced through needless fear, misinformation, misunderstanding and bigotry. At the age of 11 years, following a horrific and life-threatening accident when a wagon ran over me, I was on the critical list fighting against all medical odds against the extent of my injuries. It was a surgeon from South Africa who saved my life. That positive intervention in my life from a dark-skinned man during a time of extreme racism in 1950s Great Britain obviously affected my prevailing attitude on race thereafter. It is no surprise to me whatsoever that all my children have always enjoyed natural friendship with all races, colour and creed; and nothing will ever convince me otherwise that 'racism' is usually conveyed to children by their parents, and unless a positive attitude already prevails in parental hearts, 'racism' is always tolerated and reinforced by parents in their children's presence.
The process of mankind's evolution over thousands of years has undoubtedly shown that it's more natural to cooperate than it is to compete; it is more beneficially rewarding to share than to selfishly deprive when you have more than is sufficient to your needs. It is easier to understand different cultures and races once you begin to mix outside your own grouping. Knowing more about and experiencing a wider social circle in all subjects, persons, cultures and things naturally lead to greater understanding of our neighbours.
If innocent children can learn a non-racist way without the input of adults, surely adults have a responsibility never to teach them otherwise?" William Forde: February 27th, 2018.