Stand By Me Sowing the Seeds of Equality: Embracing our shared origins, vital differences and each other

BY: MICHAEL PATRICK DAVIDSON Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase TRIUM Global Executive MBA, Class of 2012 Fordham University, Class of 1994

June 19, 2020

It was up to ~ 6.2 million years ago that scientists estimate the genetic lineage of the ape which would lead to homo sapiens (humans) diverged from that which would ultimately lead to Chimpanzees. It was only ~ 300,000 years ago that anatomically modern humans finally emerged in Eastern Africa and then just ~ 60,000 years ago did modern human behavior begin to take shape. And it was ~ 10,000 years ago, at the end of the most recent Ice Age, that humans migrated and began to colonize most ice-free parts of the earth marking the advent of the neolithic revolution, when agriculture and more rapid population growth began to supplant hunting and gathering. The Sapphire Mines Photo Credit: Davidson - Madagascar, 2017 Let’s pause for a moment pigment for this material which they quickly evolved dark skin to survival as it regulates the and simply acknowledge that covers the entire exterior of for protection from skin cancer absorption of calcium and these are the shared genetic our bodies, researchers agree and other harmful effects of UV phosphorous, essential for origins of every human being. that our early australopithecine radiation. Then, when humans strong bones and teeth, while Race, ethnicity, creed, culture, ancestors in Africa probably had migrated out of Africa and also facilitating a normal immune language, modern social light skin beneath hairy pelts. headed to the far north, they system for resistance against structures and customs, in “If you shave a chimpanzee, its again evolved with lighter skin as certain diseases. Imagine the essence a majority of the skin is light,” says evolutionary an adaptation to limited sunlight importance of bones, teeth and ways in which we relate to one geneticist Sarah Tishkoff of the since pale skin synthesizes one’s ability to combat disease another today, evolved after University of Pennsylvania, the more Vitamin D when light is before the age of modern the basic cellular and cognitive lead author of the new study. “If scarce. (American Association medicine and while humans blueprint for humanity was you have body hair, you don’t for the Advancement of Science, were still hunting, gathering and already established. need dark skin to protect you October 2017) living in caves for protection from from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. the myriad of wild animals which Another universal trait is that the Until recently, researchers A primary reason why the dwarfed the prehistoric human largest human organ is assumed that after human human body evolved and population. of course the skin and when ancestors shed most body hair, adapted so profoundly in it comes to the evolution of sometime ~2 million years ago, response to Vitamin D relates continued on page 2 2

world around us. As the saying goes, “Never judge a book by it’s cover” and our focus here is on sight and sound, how we see and hear one another and why these senses have helped to fuel the ancient roots of racism.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr.

While each generation for thousands of years has endured The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial a version of this perversion of Photo Credit: Davidson - Washington, DC, 2012 our species, ironically no culture or demographic has an historic Furthermore, while the dark skin organized societies of people entitlement. We call this Racism monopoly on this weakness for it of some Pacific Islanders for who essentially looked and and it represents a human is shared and has been practiced example are traced to Africa, acted the same and were behaviour that is without any universally in a kaleidoscope gene variants from Eurasia have relatively isolated before the evolutionary, biological, familial, of historical moments, social also made their way back to large-scale exploration of the social, spiritual or ethical merit. structures, empires and Africa and some of the mutations seas really gained traction Because fear is the ancient governmental regimes that are responsible for lighter skin turn ~6,000 years ago. Thus, for prehistoric root of racism it is by too numerous to mention here. out to have an ancient African thousands of years, humans definition a cowardly, arcane, Needless to say, documented origin. Therefore, the variants defined themselves, their safety misguided, irresponsible and lazy evidence of oppression, war and of skin color not only originate and their behaviour relative to response to the very differences slavery fueled by racism can be in Africa but are actually an other people who shared distinct that we should have been found through the centuries in evolutionary biological response physical characteristics, religion celebrating and harmonizing for Asia, Europe, the Middle East, to UV radiation that has helped and a language or dialect and the past ~12,000 years, rather India, Africa, South America, humans adapt to the often as such, people who appeared than marginalizing and crucifying Central America, North America harsh conditions on earth and or sounded “different” were so many generations of people and by virtually every shade perpetuated our very survival as often superficially judged based who each held potential of their of human skin color, often with a race. Said differently, darker on their appearance out of fear own, along with the tremendous those of different ethnicity, or lighter skin and the spectrum and this judgement ranged potential the human race truly gender or faith as well as those of pigments, is actually an from scepticism, curiosity, the possesses, yet remains dormant of the same, for the sake of evolutionary advancement that spectrum of trust, whether each and encumbered. power, influence or any number helped humanity survive amid the had something the other needed nefarious objectives. harsh conditions of planet earth. and if there was an inherent or Among the other primary reasons perceived threat to the tribe or that humans have thrived is of In this context, consider that the As humans colonized the family. While this basic dynamic course the advanced biology United States is only 244 years earth over the past ~12,000 is easy to understand from afar, of the brain in concert with the old this year and despite the years, distinct physical external over thousands of years these central nervous system and five promise of freedom, the hope features, including but not limited roots formed habits of thought, basic senses - Sight, Sound, that represents the American to skin color, likewise evolved assumption and a foundation for Smell, Touch and Taste. While dream and the extraordinary role in response to the environment prejudice that evolved beyond these genetic tools play an that the US has played on the and climate that each group the initial protective response enormous role in our safety, world stage since 1776, there is found itself, as well as the natural of a tribe, to toxic judgements socialization and propagation much to admire and of which to evolution that occurs in the of superiority, control and as our population has reached be proud as an American. Our course of breeding over such whether those with certain ~7.7 billion as of 2020, they constitution is anchored with a period of time. The earliest physical characteristics in society can also serve to handicap our ideals toward which we strive colonies became cultures and have a natural birthright of judgment and perception of the each day and yet continually continued on page 3 3

Racism is a choice based on how It is important to highlight that a person has been influenced despite the constancy of this by their environment after birth, negative thread of humanity, and is therefore not a biological there is also an overwhelmingly or psychological predisposition. expansive history of harmony, Thus, there is always hope that tolerance, mutual understanding, through dialogue, listening and learning, beauty and love teaching one another while between all races, ethnicities and shaping the views of our children nationalities. We should not make and the generations that will the mistake of condemning the inherit the earth, we continue to human experience universally, shed unwavering light into the but rather we must maintain as shadows of prejudice peacefully balanced a view of our history and and be the change we wish to evolution, as we need to practice see in our world. The horrific for each other. Our balance will events that I have witnessed allow us to take actions that heal from afar in my lifetime fueled the wounds that racism continues by racism in various parts of the to inflict, eradicate the roots that world and most certainly here nourish it’s continued proliferation in the US as we once again in our society and march together reach a tipping point, are tragic, forward as equals, sharing space, monstrous and for a society that time, hearts, minds and souls in claims to be a beacon to the unity. world in the 21st Century, are shameful and sinful. The true test Arthur Cunningham - Composer, musician and teacher of character for a person or a nation is not whether one makes “When the river was deep, debate, reinterpret and mold, harnessing all talents and mistakes but whether one is able I didn’t falter. When faithful to its very structure that diversity to create a whole, far to learn from its transgressions, the mountain was high, was designed for flexibility, more glorious than its parts. Yet nurture real empathy among I still believed. When learning and evolution. The with deep roots in the genocide of its people, revolutionize itself, innovations, technology and indigenous peoples whose land the valley was low, heal and emerge wiser, stronger it didn’t stop me.” ideas that emerged in the 19th this was for thousands of years, and ever more unified. Today Aretha Franklin & George Michael - 1987 and 20th Centuries changed the then followed by slavery and we find ourselves in the deep world in ways that humanity had that it took 89 years to abolish dark chasm of racism amid not seen at that pace for 12,000 slavery and another 99 years a global pandemic, far from years prior and made it possible, to reach the Civil Rights Act of the mountaintop and lost in a A Personal Perspective for example, for allies in World 1964, the enduring proliferation land that by definition holds War II to vanquish among the of prejudice, racism and bigotry, the promise of equality, justice Having set the stage historically most powerful regimes of hatred reminds us that like a child, this and freedom for all and yet and genealogically, I felt it was represented by the Axis powers, nation has enormous potential, consistently struggles to deliver important to lend my voice to the that if not defeated would have has learned many lessons in its and reneges on these promises conversation by discussing my certainly changed the world in short history but has much more for so many sisters and brothers personal experience with race as ways that are unspeakable. In to learn and change if it is to be based on their ethnicity, faith, a white middle class male growing fact, it was the very abolition of a true beacon to the world and gender or sexual orientation. up in Nyack, a proximate suburb slavery and end of the Civil War to its own people. The promised These challenges are not new of New York City. As I reflected in 1865 that paved the way for land was biblically given by God and we have been in deeper and wrote this essay over the past the US to begin the long road to Abraham and his descendants valleys than this in our history, month, I realized in so many ways of reconstruction, unifying its in the Old Testament and also yet our resolve and urgency that I am blessed to have had such people, states and resources to evokes the imagery articulated to fix the institutions that are a positive journey when it comes be ready for the role it would play by Martin Luther King Jr. in broken and establish sustainable, to sharing time and space with in the 20th Century. America speeches that are among the generational change and healing people of various races, ethnicities is a nation of immigrants and most important in recorded is vital for the very survival of that and faiths at home and all over the was founded on revolution, and human history including his last, which makes democracy special, world through the years. Some as such by its very definition “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, albeit fragile and to evolve this could say that I’ve been sheltered is humanity’s attempt to get it which was delivered the day great experiment called the and perhaps I am from a certain right by unifying all peoples, before his assasination in 1968. United States of America. perspective in that I’ve not been

continued on page 4 4 immersed directly in the very worst moments of racial conflict. However, just because my experiences have been positive do not make them any less relevant and I pray inspire hope, especially considering that being with diverse peoples, seeking and celebrating that fellowship, has been one of the constants throughout my entire life.

On the shores of the Hudson River, Nyack was incorporated in 1872, participated in the underground railroad and to this day remains bucolic, artsy, progressive and on a relative scale, an ethnically, spiritually, ideologically diverse and tolerant community.

As a little boy, I was fortunate to be raised alongside people of different ethnicities and faiths in a place that fostered an overall A chance meeting with curious new friends on the roadside Photo Credit: Davidson - Uganda, 1998 harmonious community, and that my family strongly advocated for Community Action Program. It and I was as happy as could be. “Blackbird singing in the the equality of all peoples and was the funding from these Nothing really mattered to me dead of night, take these had a diverse circle of friends, initiatives which gave rise to other than whether people were Headstart, as well as a new nice, wanted to play, occasionally broken wings and learn all of which had a profound to fly. All your life, You influence during my childhood television series organized gave me cookies, chocolate and formative years. Moreso, by the Children’s Television milk and let me stay-up during were only waiting for this as a single-parent who was only Workshop that came to be known nap time, because as I recall I moment to arise. 21 when I was born, I give my as Sesame Street, which was was seldom tired. Race was not mother enormous credit with also intentionally staged in an something that I thought about, Blackbird singing in the shaping my world-view as a little urban low-income setting and it was all just natural, we were dead of night, take these boy and particularly when it came encouraged tolerance and non- together, had fun and my teachers sunken eyes and learn to race. aggressive conflict resolution could not have been lovelier or to see. All your life, You with the help of a diverse cast kinder to all of us. were only waiting for this At age five it was time to enroll in and Jim’s Henson’s Muppets. In nursery school and while there 1969, Sesame Street aired its first Years later I asked my mother moment to be free.” were a variety of choices, my episode and that same year, the why she sent me to Headstart Paul McCartney - 1968 mother made the decision to send administration of Headstart was as opposed to other schools that me to a program called Headstart, transferred to the Office of Child were likely more homogenous as such, we did alot of walking to which is located to this day in Development, which today is and her answer, “Because I get around town. We often took Nyack’s lower-income housing known as the Office of Health and wanted you to experience what the same route and at the corner project neighborhood. Human Services. the world is really about and didn’t of Franklin and High Avenue, we want you surrounded by kids and would pass the Pilgrim Baptist Headstart was founded in It was 1977 when I arrived at teachers that look, sound or dress Church and directly across the 1965 as a catch-up summer Headstart, I was already an avid the same as you.” This was a street was Earnestine’s Beauty school program for low-income fan of Sesame Street and my great decision and one for which I Spot, well-located to serve children in preparation for memories of these days are vivid. am thankful to this day as a proud the ladies in the congregation. elementary school as part of My teachers, classmates and Headstart Alumnus. On Saturdays, the door into Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society friends were all a mixture of black, Earnestine’s was kept open for Campaign”, the Economic white and hispanic, all the kids There were times as a kid when ventilation because that was the Opportunity Act of 1964 and were from lower-income homes my mother didn’t have a car and busy day for church on Sunday.

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My mother would always bring Not many aspects of broader by kids (not anyone I knew or that having a random Sunday me in, laughing and chatting society truly inspired fear within went to school with me) who were brunch at a local cafe in Valley with everyone and those ladies me as a boy, but on one occasion essentially bullies, approached Cottage NY which had a piano would talk sweetly to me, hold that remains palpable, I was me in a threatening way and player and string quartet named my hand, play with my hair, pinch watching ABC News when I called me out by my color, “Hey Columbine. The piano player was my cheeks and offer me pieces was about ten years old and the white boy”, since they didn’t the leader and organizer of this of homemade pies and cake. I segment was focused on the Klu know my real name. In each group and his name was Arthur was always fascinated with all of Klux Klan. I found it terrifying case I was walking alone, other Cunningham, who was also an the equipment and accessories, - the hoods, gowns, burning people were not around, there accomplished black composer and those large blue heaters crosses, lynchings, ideology, pure were two of them and on each and beloved music teacher in the they would have over their heads hatred and distinctly remember occasion it was a white and black community. When Arthur met as their hair was done. I often myself worrying after the episode kid who had teamed-up against my mother he took an interest in had to stay still as they talked to ended as I went to sleep that me. Fortunately, I was fast and her voice and consequently she me because they couldn’t move night that they might come to our could out-run the marauders to became one of Arthur’s singing/ very much. On the way home I community and that no person safety which I did, never to see voice students, which as you would ask my mother why they would be safe. The Klan was them again. However, the most might imagine involved quite a always seemed to be in there and mobilized in the 1860’s coincident important point is that when I told bit of time together in the coming with such a fuss over their hair, to the 13th Amendment which my family what had happened, years. Needless to say, eventually to which she responded to my was ratified in 1865 and while in each case they were quite firm they developed a cabaret satisfaction, “Because Michael, membership peaked in ~1925 that it was not anyone’s color that act together and there I was, those nice ladies want to be with a broad range of ~3 - 6 caused these events, these were watching my Mother and Arthur beautiful for God tomorrow.” million relative to a much smaller just mean kids, which comes performing in various clubs in overall population and with strong from the inside and mean kids NYC, complete with feather boas, After Headstart it was the Nyack central governance, current can come in all shapes, sizes and minor costume changes and a Public Schools all the way estimates of membership are colors. I held no grudge, did not whole routine they had together. through high school graduation several thousand and spread harbor any generalizations about It was during these years that my and as such, our student body across independent chapters. race and moved along with the mother would take me to various was diverse and because our business of growing-up. NYC jazz clubs including the graduating class was only 178 There were two distinct moments Village Vanguard and Blue Note and we had been in school growing up when I was confronted In 1982 my mother and I were as she was doing “homework” together for years, we all knew each other pretty well. Tolerance, harmony and friendship were the prevalent themes and in class we read and discussed books including Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, all of which meant that matters of race and diverse points-of-view were not only acknowledged but also openly discussed.

“Lean on me, when you’re not strong, And I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long, ‘Til I’m gonna need, somebody to lean on.” Bill Withers - 1972

Together We Can Climb Mountains Mount Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Summit, Tanzania, 1998 continued on page 6 6 which Arthur had suggested. At Arthur died there was quite a bit many shades of black and white empathy, humor and love. I am home with my grandparents the of fanfare in the community as were in that Church and when honestly a better person and sounds of Sarah Vaughan, Lena he touched so many through his the service ended, everyone global citizen for that which the Horne and Ella Fitzgerald often kindness and music and it was stayed to talk, hug, kiss, laugh, collective black community has echoed and with my mother I at the Pilgrim Baptist Church, cry and reminisce. I thought always shared with, and taught, attended live performances by as I mentioned earlier, that the about Earnestine’s Beauty Spot me through the years, in so Patti LaBelle, Roberta Flack, funeral was performed. It was that evening, where just across many ways, in as many places, Gladys Knight & the Pips, James a packed house with people of the street twenty years earlier and continues to unfold this very Brown, Bobby Short at the all ethnicities and demographics those ladies were so kind to me. day. Carlyle and of course my first from Nyack, NYC and those I wondered if any of those ladies rock concert, Prince and the that traveled greater distances were in the church that day and I am grateful to my family and Revolution on the Purple Rain to be in the room. There were I realized that regardless, the mother for sowing the seeds tour. I was often immersed in special musical performances, kindness and love they showed of equality in my heart, mind black culture, music and soul a fully adorned baptist choir me as a boy planted seeds that and soul when I was so young and developed an appreciation and the energy was more akin still thrived within me. because it has made my life for the sheer magnitude of to a celebration of life, than richer by virtue of the wide the contribution that black of loss and sadness. And it Black Lives Matter and they open aperture with which I view musicians made to the world was on that evening that I was have always mattered. The black humanity, the world itself, the stage. If you listen to interviews asked to speak, which was an lives that have touched my life beautifully diverse people with with musicians from the British honor and quite a thrill given personally and those I have met whom I have shared time and Invasion including the Beatles, it the occasion and as it involved on this journey have had an space, and the amazing rainbow was the music coming from the a reading from the bible. I was extraordinary and meaningful of colors, sights and sounds that American black community in the accustomed to being a lector impact on who I am, how I represent the screenplay of my 1950s and 60s, such as Motown, in the Catholic Church which is think, as well as my capacity for life. Chuck Berry and Little Richard, always a solemn endeavor with that were a major source of the congregation sitting quietly inspiration. and still. But not in a Baptist “When the night has come, Church - As I spoke from the And the land is dark, “If you feel like lovin’ me, pulpit, people were moving and And the moon, is the only, light we’ll see. voicing encouragement, shouting No I won’t, be afraid, If you got the notion, “Amen”, “That’s Right” and “Uh- I second that emotion. Huh” and as I looked out across Oh I won’t, be afraid, If you feel like giving me that room, I felt incredible energy, Just as long as you stand, stand by me.” a lifetime of devotion, pure love and harmony radiating Ben E. King - 1960 I second that emotion.” back at me and our family. So Smokey Robinson - 1967

Through the years my mother and Arthur fell in love, were eventually married and until his death in 1997, were partners in music and life. Arthur was a kind, gentle, patient, funny and brilliant soul and while in conversation could be quite soft spoken which made him a wonderful teacher of children, it was behind the piano that his passion emerged. My entire family adored Arthur and to me, he was a loving steadfast influence and without a family of his own, treated me with all of the care that a father would a son, and I know that brought him great joy.

As fate would have it, when Beautiful Photo Credit: Davidson - Madagascar, 2017