這個黑人小夥子,五官端正,眉目清秀,沉默寡言,身高六英尺,健壯魁梧。在班上按部就班,一絲不苟,大家與他接觸,立即就能感覺出這是一個受過良好教育,修養頗好的人。
他的祖輩一直居住在美國南方的喬治亞州,直到父親大學畢業後在賓夕法尼亞州找到了工作才決定在此成家立業。父親很孝敬爺爺奶奶,結婚前就把他們從喬治亞接到北方來住,成家以後又在原先房子的南頭加蓋了兩臥室房,爺爺奶奶搬了進去,這就是美國人最常見的形式叫做公婆角 (in-law’s quarter)。無論是男方還是女方的父母與孩子的主房連在一起單住都叫公婆角。平時各吃各的,就是兩家人,但是孩子小,放學回家的時候,父母還在班上,那麽孫子們就會呆在爺爺奶奶家裏。為了保護未成年兒童的安全,美國法律規定,未滿十四歲的兒童不能獨處在家,必須有監護人陪伴,可以是大於十四歲的保姆,朋友,親屬,兄弟姐妹。爺爺奶奶無形之中就給予子女家庭以巨大幫助。當然,老人以後行動不方便需要照顧,挨門的子女又會幫助他們。端從小就這樣在父母回家之前天天與爺爺奶奶在一起生活,非常熱愛老人。
經常地,爺爺奶奶會給他們講起他們在南方生活的經曆和所見所聞。聽過他們的無數故事,端長大以後才明白為什麽自己為什麽這麽怕狗。他們的故事裏總是少不了狗追人,咬人的可怕情節。過去,白人農莊主根本不正眼瞧黑人,直到現在,南方當地的警察總是斜睨著上下打量,然後蔑視地喊他們,孩子(boy),盡管有些黑人已經三四十歲,也這樣稱呼,然後詢問一些無足輕重的問題,例如你從哪裏來,到哪裏去,他們對白人從來不這樣問話。警察身邊的狼狗似乎對黑人也有偏見,喉嚨總是發出威脅的嗚嗚聲,隨時都會衝上來,令人毛骨悚然。
小時候,端問過他們,曾祖父或者老祖宗為什麽不逃跑,爺爺奶奶這時候就會摸著他的頭,傻孩子,地那麽大,兩條腿能跑多遠。白人開車到跟前然後放狗出來追,把逃跑的人腿咬爛,嚇得魂兒都沒有了。
在家裏,他們用帶有黑人特殊口音及俚語的語調交流,在公共場所例如學校就講公共英語,像中國人講地方話與普通話一個道理。黑人和白人之間有著一條天然的心理界溝,公共場合你好我好,骨子裏可是涇渭分明。黑人還是願意在黑人為主的教堂做禮拜,甚至牧師也會用黑人口語講經布道。男人去黑人的酒吧,女人參加黑人的爬梯,黑孩子在公共學校裏紮堆交朋友。即使社會地位混得很好,例如大學教授,律師,會計師,居住高檔社區,那也是黑人聚居的高檔社區。爺爺奶奶來到北方,發現這兒生活環境大為輕鬆,可是在南方留下的心理陰影依然影響著家人。
爺爺奶奶告誡孫子在外麵做事要處處留神,千萬別惹警察,他們從骨子裏瞧不起黑人,出了事,對黑人開槍毫不留情。喬治亞的一個鄰居小夥被警察懷疑犯了謀殺罪,在法庭上一定要他出據案發時不在場的證據,有時候這是很難做到的。可巧他們黑人鄰裏間有一個通行做法,買東西,銀行存取款,或者能夠給收據的地方一定拿收據。結果,這個年輕人找出了在那個時候買東西的發票,並回憶起當時與他在一起的人,才免於一場無妄之災。所以,端也養成了要發票的習慣,他的自我保護意識很強。
大家聽後心頭有點兒沉重,無人辯駁端的故事。
明白了, 哈哈
您的故事都很精彩,都看了。在這點個大讚!!
梧桐之丘出自“鳳凰鳴矣,於彼高岡。梧桐生矣,於彼朝陽。”《詩經·大雅·卷阿》周王出遊卷阿,詩人所陳讚美之歌。
目前許多人用梧桐代武統,其意過於偏窄且褻瀆中國文化。
職場三大禁忌話題:政治、宗教、種族。平素,你我避之猶恐不及。
“梧”兄藝高膽壯氣豪,不屬常人之列。
說起來,華人也是少數族裔。自家的故事說不完,隻是審時度勢,緘口為上吧。
https://www.imom.com/home-alone-rules-state
The following table lists the minimum age at which children may be left at home alone, categorized by state, within the United States. Please note that city and county ordinances within each state may have more definitive and restrictive laws. Call your State DHS or local child welfare agency to learn about age guidelines in your area.
The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left home alone.
State Minimum Age Reference
Alabama None Alabama’s Child Neglect Law
Alaska None Alaska Office of Children’s Services
Arizona None Arizona Department of Child Safety
Arkansas None University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
California None California Department of Education
Colorado 12* CO4 Kids
Connecticut None Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Delaware 12* Delaware Division of Family Services
Florida None Florida Department of Children and Families
Georgia 9* Georgia Department of Human Services
Hawaii None Hawaii Department of the Attorney General
Idaho None No resource found
Illinois 14 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Indiana None Prevent Child Abuse Indiana
Iowa None Iowa Department of Human Services
Kansas 6* Kansas Department for Children and Families
Kentucky 11* WeHaveKids.com
Louisiana None Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
Maine None Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Maryland 8 Baltimore County, Maryland FAQ
Massachusetts None Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries
Michigan 10* The Michigan Child Protection Law
Minnesota 8* Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
Mississippi None Mississippi State University Extension
Missouri None Missouri Department of Social Services
Montana None Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
Nebraska 7* WOWT
Nevada None Las Vegas Review-Journal
New Hampshire 10* WOKQ
New Jersey None New Jersey Department of Children and Families
New Mexico None** City of Albuquerque Child Safety at Home
New York None New York Office of Children and Family Services
North Carolina 8 North Carolina Fire Code G.S. 14-318
North Dakota 9* North Dakota Department of Human Services
Ohio None Ohio Children’s Trust Fund
Oklahoma 7* Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oregon None Oregon Legal Research
Pennsylvania None Legal Zoom Info
Rhode Island None No resource found
South Carolina None Coastal Law
South Dakota 10* South Dakota Safety Council
Tennessee None Tennessee Juvenile & Family Courts
Texas None Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Utah None Utah Valley Pediatrics
Vermont None Town of Williston, Vermont
Virginia None Virginia Department of Social Services
Washington 10* Seattle’s Child
West Virginia None TEAM for West Virginia Children
Wisconsin None City of Madison Fire Department
Wyoming None No resource found
Some information taken with permission from http://www.latchkey-kids.com.
*Age is recommended, but not legally required.
**While New Mexico does not have a state law mandating the minimum age required for a child to stay home alone, a City of Albuquerque Ordinance states that children under the age of 11 may not be left home alone.
特特特喜歡《綠皮書》的,算我一個!
梧桐真是涉獵廣泛,寫啥像啥,服氣:))
其它評論“梧桐“ meaning 武統(台灣), 嗬嗬
梧桐兄真是佳作連連,文思泉湧,精彩好文,讚!