And fortunately for me, neither of my parents would have known what you were talking about if you mentioned that modern and grossly overworked epithet 'racist'. To Tacklow, as with the early Greeks and Romans, and in their day the Venetians, all men were 'people' irrespective of race or color: there were good people and bad ones, nice or nasty ones, clever or stupid ones, interesting or boring ones - plus all the degrees that range between those poles. But all the same. Just 'people'. His fellow men.
In M.M. Kaye's "The Sun in the Morning," the author reflects on the naivety of his parents regarding the concept of racism, suggesting that they belonged to a time when such distinctions were not the focal point of human interactions. For Tacklow, like many historical cultures, the notion of categorizing individuals based on race was irrelevant; what mattered was their character and actions. People were simply viewed as either good or bad, without racing them into divisive labels.
This perspective simplifies human relationships into more fundamental attributes, highlighting the universal qualities of kindness, intelligence, and personal characteristics rather than superficial differences. Kaye’s observation draws attention to a more inclusive understanding of humanity, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone as individuals based on their merit, rather than being confined to societal labels that fragment collective human experience.
