Darker Than Black

Chapter 3 - Black Is Not A Race

Caleb stood on the podium and looked at the crowds of black faces looking at him. He was giving a speech on the need to be passive in their fight against racism in their town. "I know most times we just wanna squish their necks and tell them we are humans too, but no, no matter what they do, we shouldn't fight back, that will just make us look like them. Black is not a race, it's a color, not of outward appearances however, but a color of the innermost part of the heart", Caleb said and touched his chest as he gesticulated. Most of them nodded in approval.

"Some of them don't even know why they hate us, some are ignorant and are relying on what they learnt from childhood", Caleb continued. "Shane here is an example", Caleb said as he beckoned for Shane to come out. Shane walked towards the front of the audience, walking slowly as the pain in his leg wouldn't allow him walk fast. He was touched by Caleb's kindness the previous day and had waited on the alley way that Caleb helped him, hoping to see Caleb passing. He didn't wait long as Caleb came in view, riding his bike. Caleb greeted him and he replied with greetings.

"Sorry about my attitude yesterday, and thanks for this", he had said. Caleb had only smiled and told him not to worry. They then introduced themselves.

"I really didn't know that black people were capable of doing good, all I've heard about them was that they were gangsters and liked to rob people", Shane had said as he and Caleb rode side by side. Caleb stopped his bike and looked down. Shane stopped too. "What's wrong? Did I say something bad?" He asked.

Caleb shuddered. "Where did you hear that?" Caleb asked Shane.

"Oh, it's since I was a child, I dunno though", Shane said and shrugged.

"Shane, you know there are white gangsters too right? Caleb asked. Shane nodded.

"So it's not about the color, yesterday, what color of blood came out of your leg?" Caleb asked as he started to cycle again. Shane quickly cycled in unison and tried to keep up. "Red", he said.

Caleb took out a small blade from his backpack and made a slight cut on his palm. Fresh blood oozed out. "What's the color of my blood?" He asked Shane. "Red", Shane said again.

Caleb nodded. "So, there's no difference, the color doesn't speak anything, it's the actions and behaviours that do", he said. Shane nodded in agreement. That was true. Deep down, he knew it, that just as there were bad black people, so also there were good black people, bad white people, good white people, everything was balanced.

Shane finally reached the podium and explained to the audience how he was raised up thinking all blacks were evil and beneath whites. His parents had told him that their parents had thought them that blacks were lesser beings than them and so should not be treated equally. The crowd murmured. "But now, Caleb has really shown me the truth. I, on my part would try to pass that to all my white friends and family. Blacks are humans too", Shane concluded as the crowd cheered. After the short meeting Bethany came to pick Caleb up. He insisted on cycling home but she didn't allow him.

She smiled as he told her everything that happened. He was finally starting the revolution he always dreamed about. "Uhm, you passed my usual drop spot", Caleb said as he watched her zoom past his street.

"Well, dad and mom ain't home, so we are going to celebrate at my place", Bethany said and shook her head. Caleb laughed. "Celebrate what?" He asked but Bethany gave him a "don't you play stupid with me look".

Bethany's house was so big and filled to the brim with servants. They snuck in through the garden door and went to Bethany's bedroom. Bethany's bedroom was larger than Caleb's sitting room. Only her butler knew about her relationship with Caleb. He didn't mind, because he was a Christian and didn't really approve of her parents trying to make her into a racist like them.

They played lots of video games, especially Bethany's favorite, Princess Tea Party. "Not that game again", Caleb moaned as he fell on her soft pillow on the bed. The huge television beaming in front of them. Bethany tickled him and he laughed hard.

"You must play my game with me, it's a must, remember the commitment", Bethany said and pulled his hand up. He remembered when Bethany had forced him to make the commitment. She wanted him to play her princess game but he had refused, so she promised to play any games with him that he liked. So that was how the game commitment was made.

"But all the characters there are girls", Caleb moaned and sighed, looking at the ceiling fan rotating.

"Well, I sometimes play PES20 with you, and all the characters are boys" Bethany argued. Caleb raised an eyebrow. Firstly, Bethany didn't even play the PES well. Secondly, he had introduced her to the female teams on the football game but she had said that she didn't like the way they looked.

"Let's play this game now Caleb", Bethany growled and Caleb quickly jerked up. He mumbled. The Princess Tea Party was only about moving Princesses around, making the perfect tea, baking crookies and throwing lavish parties. The awkward thing is, there were no princes. One would normally expect princes to be at a princess party, but in Bethany's game, no. The only thing they did at the parties was do dance contests and compare their gowns and tiaras. Caleb didn't like tiaras. Caleb sighed as he picked up a game pad and chose a princess. At least there was no racism here.