MLK, New Jersey and Other Observations

I was watching CBS Sunday Morning on this MLK weekend and there was an interesting story concerning the state of New Jersey . They called New Jersey the Rodney Dangerfeld of the U.S. but they also brought that New Jersey was one of the richest and smartest states in the union.
In light of this and MLK, I would like to reflect my own New Jersey story in the way of Dr. Joseph Camarrano, of Providence College. Joseph hails from Metuchen, New Jersey ( exit 10 on the New Jersey turnpike), as does Susan Sarandon , Joe is one of the finest men that I know . He is a kind and brilliant gentle man, who lives his life through principle and devotion to his family and his students. I knew Joe when I worked at Close-Up in Washington DC. A particular story brings to mind the fullness of Joe's integrity .
One day as we were coming in from a long day in the city and returning back to our hotel in Arlington Virginia . Our bus driver, an African-American man who was a former Marine and Vietnam veteran pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and was cut off by another vehicle driven by another man in a suit.
This man shouted out the word "nigger " to the driver . Our bus driver was so distraught that he stopped his bus and got out to ague with the driver of the car which brought out hotel security to see what was amiss.
The driver of the car denied that he had called our driver a "nigger" . Both of us came to the driver's defense and Joe stood about an inch from the man's face and said yes you did and don't you lie.
He stood up to this man with integrity and conviction and showed me that America has to a nation of right and wrong not black and white.
I still stay in touch with Joe and he continues to maintain the sense of purpose and integrity that he exhibited some 27 years ago.
To this day, I remember this story, and I will never forget the example of what fighting racism really is. It is a personal battle for all of us and no matter how easy it is to turn away and join the status quo . It is better to take the path of resistance and walk the road of Dr. King as Joe Camarrano does.