For those of you who’ve known me for a long time, I’m sure that you’re already aware of my passion for genealogy, and that I’ve been researching my lineage for years now.
Well, family history can have a profound impact on our personal identity… sometimes in unexpected ways.
I recently had a stark reminder of this when a conversation about my heritage brought to light an old prejudice that I once held…
A prejudice that took me a very long time to overcome.
When only a child, often home sick, I was frequently placed in front of our black-and-white TV to entertain myself while my mother was busy.
Every afternoon, the movies that aired daily were stark depictions of World War II, highlighting the brutality of the Germans and the horrors they inflicted upon the Jewish people and their prisoners.
These films left a lasting impression on my young mind, instilling a deep-seated hatred for Germans.
Don’t get me wrong, I learned to fear the Japanese for their involvement in Pearl Harbor and their brutality to their prisoners too.
But the hatred was more focused on the Germans, though I’m not sure why.
Many years later, my father explained that those movies were created by Hollywood to incite the American public to support the war that was going on in Europe back in 1939-45.
He went on to explain that our local TV station likely received the rights to air those movies as a cost-cutting measure for their afternoon content.
Fast forward to my late teens…
I was working in a restaurant in Oshawa called the BoPeep.
One day, a frequent diner asked me if I was Dutch or German.
Being fair haired, tall and slender at that time, I can now understand why she asked.
But at the time, I was horrified!
I quickly denied any German heritage, proudly claiming my Irish roots.
You can imagine my shock when my mother later revealed to me that indeed I do have German blood… on HER side of the family.
For a lack of a better way of putting my reaction… this revelation shook me to my core.
How could I reconcile my deep-seated prejudice with this newfound knowledge?
My interest in family history, initially focused on my paternal side, now extended (though, only temporarily) to my maternal side.
With the help of my maternal cousin Sharon who lived in Michigan, we traced our lineage back to the early 1800s, in southern Ontario.
To our relief, we found no direct connection to the Nazi regime.
Over time, I came to the reckoning that my hatred was misdirected.
It was not the German people I despised, but the actions of the Nazis.
This distinction became clearer as I matured, and I learned to separate the actions of individuals from the identity of a whole group.
This Journey Taught Me a Valuable Lesson:
The best way to overcome prejudice is to find common ground with those we unfairly judge.
By understanding our shared humanity, we can dismantle the irrational fears and biases that divide us.
Today, I use my story …with no holds barred… to help others confront and overcome their own prejudices.
It took years for me to understand and let go of my hatred… but it was a journey well worth taking.
I hope my story encourages you to reflect on your own biases and find the courage to face them head-on.
Feel free to share this with whomever you deem needs to know my story.
