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The party was held at a small church. I had an absolute blasting making balloons and singing and dancing to the black gospel music they had playing. They also had a fashion and talent show during the party of the kids. Nothing too fancy, but a friend announcing as the kids sang or danced. Oh yea, the shrimp on the plate they made me as I left was good too.
All of this made for a great party, but there is one thing that really made it special to me. I was the only white guy there.
Let me 'splain with a little a little personal history.
I grew up in a small town in South Carolina. Sadly, there are many in that town that are very racist still today. Also, my grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. My town made national news for opening a pro KKK museum. So that should give you an idea of the environment by which I was surrounded. There was a lot of hatred based on stupid things like skin color.
Thankfully, my mother was not part of that culture. Though her father had been a member of the Klan, by the grace of God she did not follow in those footsteps. My whole life I grew up being the only white guy in the room. I consider it one of the greatest blessings of my life.
So what does this have to do with balloons?
The first time I ever watched a balloon show was on a mission trip. A member of my group performed Jonah and the Whale using a Ralph Dewey balloon routine. At this first performance my crew and myself were the only white people, but I watched as the balloons and story were used to quickly build trust and break down cultural barriers. It brought back those times in my childhood and I instantly knew balloon art and performance was about to be a major part of my life. I didn't think I'd end up being a full time balloon guy in St. Louis, but who could ever guess such insane antics.
That is the great thing about our visual art. Even when we can't speak a language, even when we don't understand the cultural norms, even when we're the only white guy in the room, balloons still speak a message louder than our voice and tone.
That is why that party was so wonderful to me. The grandson of a KKK member getting the greatest thrill he has known, surrounded by smiling African-American children due in part to cheap pieces of latex. That is a memory worthy of holding in my heart!
