Rainbows and Dodge Charger

As I ventured out into the rain, an walk I hadn’t initially wanted to do, I stumbled upon an awe-inspiring rainbow that stole my breath away. Capturing its beauty in a photograph, I pondered the profound reasons behind my affection for rainbows. My fondness stemmed from cherished memories of “The Wizard of Oz,” where the song, somewhere over the rainbow was my favorite part of the movie. It symbolized to me that something extraordinary awaited beyond the rainbow’s end.

In times of trouble, as a child, I’d hum that tune, envisioning the wonders that lay ahead. But then came the moment when I was told that my admiration for rainbows was somehow “gay,” and that I, being a straight male, shouldn’t embrace them. Similarly, my adoration for the iconic TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard” and its iconic orange 1969 Dodge Charger, flaunting the Confederate flag, was tarnished.

I owned all the show’s toys, including the car, flag and all, until an older cousin from North Carolina shared a different perspective, explaining that the flag represented something divisive and no black person should like that car air watch that show..

These two symbols, once laden with joyful fantasies, were marred by others’ varied viewpoints, experiences, and understandings. Today, as a grown man, I proudly confess my affinity for rainbows and my admiration for that ’69 Dodge Charger adorned with the Confederate flag. Life’s lesson: don’t permit others to shatter the joys that lights up your world.