Marching at ASU

While UW was busy with their pre-game for killing ASU in Arizona still in the fall heat, I was in the cold, wintry snow flurries of a different ASU: Appalachian State University. (Pronouced: "Appal-ah-chan")

I've been helping with the JF Webb Marching Band, specifically the Drumline, and I got to go with them on their "BIG TRIP" to ASU for their marching competition. I had a blast, except for the whole freezing part. I had a great time bonding with both instructors and students. At one point, one of the girls looked at me and said "No Offense Mr. Roeder, but you're pretty cool for a white guy!" I laughed and said thank you! However, it was interesting to see my kids' preoccupation with color. They judged every band who came out onto the field by their color, and automatically associated being white with having money and having a good band program. It's interesting how deep these racial stereotypes run, and a little disturbing too.

It was weird...'cuz some of them were saying oh white boys can't do such and such, and I looked at them and said "Excuse me... what color am I?" and they were like: "well you're different..."

What? I'm more that just my color? I'm a person too? Isn't that AWESOME. You are a person too. Everyone is.

I don't say this out of any malice whatsoever. In fact, everything that was said was said in jest or in a playful manner, but still the ideals and the prejudices are there. My kids have been persecuted, and they know it, and they strike out against it. And well they should. But I wish they shouldn't have to...