Personal Changes Can Reflect Social Revolutions

By WILLIAM SCRUGGS

Published: May 5, 2008

It may be hard to believe, but at one point in my life, I had a hippie 'fro.

I once owned a pair of platform shoes and blue suede clogs. Hanging on a wall in my room was a poster of an American flag. Of course, it was painted on a smiling, unabashed young woman.

I try to explain those days to my daughter; she tends to give me that look that says, "What were you thinking?"

To be honest, I don't know what I was thinking. I do not know how and when I changed from a clean-cut, churchgoing young boy to that other guy. Not that there was anything wrong with that other guy; the truer inner person always manifests itself sooner or later. Some of us are just better at hiding than others. But I am sure I am like most people: events happened in my life when I least expected things to happen.

I went to bed one night with images of pirates who fought the good cause and cowboys seeking justice and woke up the next day in the middle of a riot. I cannot tell you how, but my life changed that day. Until then, I was completely unaware of the world outside of the neighborhood where we played ballgames in the streets and rode our bikes to the corner store to turn bottles in for just enough change to buy candy.

America stood at the threshold of change. Some saw it as a revolt against society. I think it was more a revolt for society. A wakeup call, if you will, a necessary adjustment that comes along every so often.

Enlightenment was the buzz of the day, hedonism was the practice. There I was wearing bell-bottom jeans dragging the ground that had not been washed in awhile and the next day I was in college. I became sophisticated overnight. My hair didn't change much - groomed maybe - but the bell-bottoms had a less ragged appearance. The American flag poster girl was replaced with a simple phrase I had read somewhere: I think, therefore I am. I am, therefore I think.

I read the works of writers who wrote about life that I could relate to and of philosophers and thinkers who were unafraid of speaking against the norm. I found a voice in Giovanni; not so much in what was said, but how. These were strong voices, who themselves followed even stronger voices of hope and courage, strength and determination and a steadfast belief in equality and humanity.

Some of those voices were quieted long before their time.

Events taking place at the least expected times continued over the years. There were more riots; there was a political awakening not seen in this country since the American Revolution; there were tragedies and triumphs; unexpected events that have changed America and I many times.

My hair is not what it used to be. And the bell over my belt is much wider than what had dragged on the ground. It must be time for another change.

William Scruggs is a Tampa resident.