by Corey Aaron Burkes

Created on: November 11, 2008

(Best read while listening to Star Wars Episode 2 Soundtrack - 'Across the Stars' track by John Williams)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jALL1_KdN8

I grew up in Jamaica Queens, New York ... however, I 'lived' in Floral Park, New York ... a predominately white neighborhood through the late 1970's to late 1980's. PS 191, Junior High School 172 and eventually Martin Van Buren High School.

What does that mean? It means for a little over ten or so years, I based myself in a neighborhood where I was practically the only black man seen on a regular basis when the others were 'bus'ed' out back across the border when the school day ended.

Through multiple sleepovers and friendships I sorrowfully miss to this day, I had countless proxy mothers, brothers and sisters that took me into their homes and I had privy into worlds, cultures and ideals that ... upon coming home ... many of my around the way friend just could not understand.

Maybe would not understand. So I got into a habit of separating my friends. Those on one side of the border would NEVER meet those on the other because the politics were just too great. Yes ... politics. At age ... what was I? Seven years old? I was already an ambassador and offering peace between two races during a time where there was a black/white fight, guaranteed, at the end of each school year.

Coincidentally, as Ambassador from the strange and dark lands of St. Albans, Queens Village (black half) and won't-leave-your-car Jamaica, Queens ... I was also their safe interaction with the people that they've seen and heard about ... but never had the chance to speak to.

Between the ages of 7 and 16, I've had frank and open conversations with child and adults three times my age on the reasons behind my own race. Now, keep in mind, except for skin color, I wasn't always aware there was a difference between me or them. If I had a friend that liked Star Wars, then we were buddies for life ... end of story.

Oh, but did they have questions. In honor of David Letterman, the top ten questions white people asked me since they had a black person in their home:

10) Why are you people always so angry?
9) Why can't you play basketball like the rest of them?
8) Why are so many of you in jail?
7) Why do you people always have dirt for lawns?
6) Don't you people like to be educated?
5a) Why do you always march?
5b) Reverend Al is a black leader? What kind of a leader is he?
5c) Why does Reverend Al wear those jogging suits? (circa 1980-1990's)
4) What the hell is Kwanza?
3)

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