investigations department at the Red Cross.
The mayor over heard one of the supervisors referring to the black people there by the forbidden N. word. After he said something to the supervisor and informing the managers what was said, nothing was done to the supervisor who had his team and others trained not to fill out any forms or issue any assistance to the black people who were sent to their tables.
The racism from the Red Cross was not directed just at the clients, it was internal as well. There were volunteers who openly talked about being card-carrying members of the Klan.
When we went on home visits in the white communities, we were told that it was safer where we had just left. We were also told that all the things we were denying the residents in Pahokee and Belle Glade, we were to give to those in the white communities.
I watched as God said
enough is enough.
I watched as God said, “I will not have you treat my people this way and think you can get away with it.” I watched as God stepped in and began to help His Children. I watched as every scheme from satan was turned around for the good. I watched as God rounded up all His Children that He sent down and revealed their roles and assignments to be completed. I watched as God used us to strengthen those who were growing weak and weary from the abuse from those who were being used by satan. I watched as God sent people home, whose hearts had grown weary before hatred could set in, from what was going on. I watched as God allowed me to know what it was like to walk in Paul’s shoes.
On a whole, the experience with the Red Cross was extremely ugly. What made it worthwhile were the residents I encountered. To see God’s hand in all the ugliness was a beautiful thing. To hear from the residents love for God and how it never wavered made my heart fill with joy. To know that they never gave up on God brought tears to my eyes as I enjoyed client after client talk about their love of God and how thankful they were that He spared their lives.
These, the same people that I was supposed to fear, knew that God was not going to let them down. The joy in their voices when they told of how they prayed before coming down to the center and also of them thanking God that He sent people like me and others to take care of them during this trying time.
The love that flowed from the young and old brought many tears to my eyes, yes, I cried in public, as we hugged, laughed, and I listened to their stories. The love flowed each time one of the clients sat at the table to be assisted. The love flowed each time I was thanked for doing what I was sent there to do. The love flowed every time a plate was brought to me for doing my job that God sent me to do. The love flowed as I ate each bite and gained each pound. The love flowed as each friendship was made. The love flowed when the mayor asked me and a few others to come down on our off day to speak to the youth. The love flowed and made every day worth enduring. The love flowed when I got sick from the black mold and the members of the church took care of me. The love from God through these people just flowed and flowed. The love flowed and flowed.
I would do it all over again. Even as those managers are now trying to keep me and others from being used by the Red Cross, by the way they are trying to discredit our names. I do not worry or fret because I know if it is God’s will for me to go through that agency again, their words and actions will be in vain