Michael Lewis III is the junior varsity basketball coach for Bellaire and one of the IPC teachers. Anyone that has met him knows that he is a caring and kind person who wants to see the best come out of people. However, growing up in the 1960s, Lewis experienced in a society where some people didn’t see him that way.

“Growing up, it was basically what everyone knows as segregation.” We went to different schools than white people. We had different bathrooms and water fountains. It wasn’t a good time in America at all.” Living in 1960’s America, black people were racially discriminated and did not have some rights as their white counterparts did.” My grandfather didn’t even go to school. “Lewis said. “He took care of my mother and he actually had to send her to another city for her to go to school.”

From 1876 to the mid 1960’s, there were the Jim Crow laws that called for “separate but equal” policies that led to treatments and accommodations that white people had that black people couldn’t have.

“In 1973, I was in Chicago for work,” Lewis said. “One day, a group of friends and I were sitting at a park. Out of nowhere, about 30 white men attacked us with chains and bats. We were left beaten very badly. When we were at the hospital, the white police officer that arrived at the scene told us, “you boys shouldn’t have been there”

When asked about how he would overcome seeing and experiencing those things, He replied, “By going to church. My mother told me to always believe in Jesus and know that that He would help me overcome anything.” Lewis said.

Today, Police brutality against minorities has become a major issue in the United States.  A football player named Colin Kaepernick has garnered headlines by choosing to kneel for the national anthem before a game to raise awareness for the issue. Kaepernick is now unemployed due to his actions yet more players and now teams have supported him and are also kneeling during the anthem.

“Kneeling for the anthem has nothing to do with disrespecting the flag, country or the military,” Lewis said.” It is about raising awareness for these issues. Nothing is being done so these players and their teams have the platform to shine a light on the issue.”

Lewis also talked about how he can change the way people think about him or other minorities.

“Through education and communication,” Lewis said. “If some people just sat down with me and got to know me, they would see past my skin color. I have had friends that used to be racist until they got to know me. It is just about being associated together.”