My kind of garden

by Dave Dalzell    I recently read books to two classes at Sam Thomas Elementary, one of our company’s Adopt-A-Schools. The first class, a special-education group, seemed to hang on my every word as I hammed up a story about the ghost of Nicholas Greebe. Running late to the next class—fifth graders—I was handed a book as I sat down. I plowed right in, using my best character voices in keeping with the “spirit” of the ghost story I just finished.

The second book was about a 12-year-old girl riding the bus by herself to visit her “someplace special.” I was on the third page of Goin’ Someplace Special before I realized the setting was Nashville, Tennessee, in 1950.

As the young lady paid her fare, she was told to sit in the back of the bus. When she politely offered her seat to an older lady, she had to stand the rest of the way even though there were many empty seats in the front. She got off near a park downtown and couldn’t use the “white’s only” water fountain or sit on the park benches.

I started sweating as I wondered if I was making this story all too real.

When the young girl finally found her “someplace special,” the public library, the book abruptly ended. I read the author’s notes telling how as a child growing up in a segregated world, her favorite place was the public library, because it was the only non-segregated building in downtown Nashville in 1950.

Now it was up to me to explain that the world has changed a lot in 50 years. I pointed to a blond, fair-skinned child and said I have a daughter with skin just like hers. Then I pointed to a girl with brown hair and dark skin and said that I have a daughter with skin just like hers, too. I told them how I love all my children very, very much. I explained that I believe the color of our skin and the differences we each have are like flowers in a garden. It is the differences that make a garden so beautiful. Each flower brings its own unique beauty. I told them I like the world a lot better today.

I would use the same analogy for our industry and association. The more diversity, the better. I’m pleased that the Texas Association of REALTORS® was well-represented at recent events put on by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals and the Asian American Real Estate Association—two fantastic organizations. I invite everyone, no matter your race, color, religion, sex, handicap, or national origin, to get more involved in our association. And I encourage every Texas REALTOR® to interact with all types of people in our communities—especially the people who aren’t just like you.

Photo by Scott Van Osdol.

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