Story Review of A Mason-Dixon Memory

A Mason-Dixon Memory by Clifton Davis is a story that discusses two black people’s experiences regarding the Mason-Dixon line, the line that divided the segregated south with the free north, the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Dondre Green was a black high schooler who was participating in a state tournament for golf. He was a decent player, but because of his skin color, he was barred from playing in the state championship. So, the rest of the golf team took his side and decided that they simply would not attend the tournament. In fact, the Pennsylvania government passed legislation making it illegal for institutions to start a competitive sports team and then bar players because of their race. Meanwhile, Clifton Davis’s middle school was going on a field trip and helped raise enough money so that he and his classmates could go. However, he was excluded because of his race, so one by one, his classmates boycotted the trip by refusing to go and took up the side of their friend. These stories show that it is possible to overcome racism and fight for civil rights with friendship.

Racism favors certain groups because of their ethnicity or skin color and is unfair as everybody shouldn’t be judged on their ancestry. Some people today and many in the past make the mistake of judging others based on their skin color or their nation of origin. Dondre Green was a proficient golf player when he was in high school. However, the director said that the Caldwell Parish Country Club was reserved for whites. Therefore, Green either couldn’t attend like his classmates or the entire team would have to forfeit the tournament by not showing up. The team was outraged and decided to not go as a form of protest. Meanwhile, Clifton Davis was in middle school when he got a taste of what racism was like. His school was going on a field trip to D.C. but he was excluded because of his race, and he couldn’t go into one of the parks. Many people are denied a chance simply because of their skin color or who their parents and grandparents are. Racism is unfair and wastes lots of human potential.

Friendship is the strongest force in the world and with it, we can stand up against discrimination. Individually, we are weak, but united, we can do amazing things. Dondre Green couldn’t fight against racism in the state golf championship alone because he was just one person. However, his teammates took his side when they saw that he was being treated worse just because of his skin color. They boycotted the championship and refused to attend. Eventually, this case made it all the way to the state congress, which passed a bill to ban institutions from starting sports teams and then excluding players because of their race. Another instance where teamwork and friendship caused great change was in the story of Clifton Davis. Davis helped to fund his school’s field trip to stay in D.C.. However, he was banned from one of the parks simply because of his skin color. Eventually, all of the kids took his side and refused to go. In both stories, teamwork and friendship helped to fight back against discrimination. Strength comes from support and interdependence.

History and memories can stop us from repeating the mistakes of the past. Preventing past mistakes from happening is how we grow as a community. Dondre Green and Clifton Davis both experienced unfair treatment due to discrimination during their times. When Green was in high school, he was banned from participating in a tournament because of his skin color. However, his friends helped him by boycotting the tournament and simply refused to attend. So, Green was invited to share his experiences to a large audience so that racism could be prevented in the future. When he faced discrimination, his friends stood up for him and fought for justice. Memories can also celebrate important figures who contributed to the development of society, such as Dondre Green himself, who fought against discrimination in sports teams. Green shared his experiences in order to prevent racism from taking away opportunities in the future, and thus, when he saw the Lincoln Memorial, the monument of the great president seemed to smile. Societies develop by learning about past figures who contributed to combating negative influences on them.

A Mason Dixon Memory by Clifton Davis talks about two stories of black people who were discriminated against because of their skin color but rose up with the help of their friends. Dondre Green was in a high school golf team, but he was barred from attending a golf tournament because of his skin color, so the team either had to forfeit or go without him. His teammates chose loyalty and refused to attend as long as Green wasn’t allowed to. Meanwhile, Clifton Davis was in middle school and helped to fund his school’s graduation trip in D.C. However, he was banned from going to one of the parks because it was south of the Mason-Dixon line, the border between the free north and the segregated south. Just like in the case of Dondre Green, his friends all refused to go. This story teaches us three themes. First, racism is unfair as it judges people based on something they can’t control. Second, teamwork and friendship can overcome difficulties. Third, society avoids repeating mistakes by learning about past incidences.