I forgot to mention this little story yesterday when I posted growing up black in Nazi Germany post. It was a very quiet day at work a few months ago when I started reading Destined to Witness: Growing up in Nazi Germany on my lunch break and a customer entered the store to pick up his glasses. For some reason I walked over to the counter to serve him whilst still holding the book. Once I placed it on the counter, I forgot all about it and all my attention was on the customer. This gentleman appeared to be of South American origin and probably in his early 50s. After I had given the customer his glasses and given him the 101 run down of how to take care of his glasses, he saw the book and glanced closely at the title and said ‘Why are you reading this?’ I told him, I was curious because I have never heard of black people in Nazi Germany. He told me that I shouldn’t read it because it’s a painful past we don’t need to remember! I was quite shocked. I think I was too shocked to respond to him or maybe he didn’t give time for me to respond and walked off. But I was so puzzled and continued to be puzzled.
I thought the reason why people write books about the painful moments in history is so we learn and understand these stories – stories which could possible help us/humanity stop these kind of situations occurring today!
I was too puzzled to even remember the customer’s name, I don’t think I really remember his face. I just remember how he said it too me. I would love to meet him again and ask for an in-depth explanation of why I shouldn’t have been reading Destined to Witness: Growing up in Nazi Germany.
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