Junior High Track and Racism

Monday was MLK Day. And you know I remember when Obama got elected, everyone was like I wonder what Martin Luther King, Jr. would say. And lets be honest, he probably would have been like, "way to go youngblood, way to go!" Also, since we are a private school, we didn't get off for MLK Day, talk about some BS. But now it's time to talk about racism.

Junior High Track was probably the most fun I've ever had running. At age 12, you know nothing about running and setting PR's, and you're only goal is to win. The thought process was always: if I win the county two mile, maybe that girl will date me. Junior high track also led to the greatest rivalries. The past US-USSR dual meets had nothing on Miller Junior High and East Fairmont Middle. Most of the meets were at night, so at every meet it was literally like running in the Olympic Finals...sorta.

Well, I think this month is Black History Month, which is funny because if there was a White History Month, things would be awk-ward. Looking back, junior high was my first introduction to black culture and junior high was so racist. At the first practice for track there was no greater example. All the white kids were told to run the 800 and up and all the black kids became sprinters. There was an Injun (see how racist that is) on the team and some confusion as to what he should run. He ended up at the 800. At one practice, one of the black kids on the team called all the white kids "crackers". So seventh grade was the first time I was insulted for my race. What are the odds.

I'm pretty sure if I could go back to any time in my life, it would have to be eighth grade. Everybody thought they were shit. If I could go back with the knowledge that I have now about human psychology, I would be an unstoppable force in my quest to be the coolest kid at junior high.