Michael Dickenson and Charlie Hukill
Recorded
July 17, 2020
50:05 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv000041
Description
Michael Dickenson (63) speaks with his One Small Step conversation partner Charlie Hukill (68) about political divisiveness, economic anxiety, tolerance and understanding, the politics of the town of Abilene, Texas, and growing up with a Black housekeeper.Subject Log / Time Code
CH shares his earliest political memories of JFK, MLK Jr., and Richard Nixon. MD speaks about growing up in West Texas, and his parents teaching him to vote for "the person, not the party."
MD recalls having a Black housekeeper/nanny, and remembers being at home with her when news broke of JFK and MLK Jr. being assassinated.
CH and MD speak about the response to COVID in their community. CH mentions his great-grandparents dying in the 1918 Flu Pandemic. They discuss economic and global anxiety in relation to the pandemic, including conspiracies they have heard.
CH and MD discuss Donald Trump's divisive presidency, and express their views that politics should not be a career, because it attracts ego and nepotism. MD recalls working as a financial advisor for Donald Trump during his bankruptcy in the past.
They discuss Donald Trump's international relations skills, and cite divisiveness causing untenable situations.
CH expresses worry for the future. CH and MD discuss constitutional changes needed, such as term limits. CH recalls the Vietnam war and the 1960s movement for peace, as well as White Privilege. CH speaks about his community theater work informing his views.
MD speaks more about the Black housekeeper from his childhood, and recalls the first times he thought of the economic divide and racial biases in his life. MD cites the shift from agrarian culture into the Great Depression as a factor in shifting middle class American's values and dreams. CH also recalls having a Black housekeeper in his childhood, and speaks about new generations having more tolerance.
MD speaks about his children as "apolitical" and "colorblind," noting that they both are in relationships with women of color. CH speaks about his family tree growing to include people of color, but also mentions having family who don't understand or tolerate differences. CH and MD discuss people's upbringings contributing to this.
CH asks MD where he stands on Universal Healthcare, and they discuss insurance as an economic barrier that creates privilege. MD quotes Winston Churchill on democracy, and they speak about their community in Abilene as a Republican town.
Participants
- Michael Dickenson
- Charlie Hukill