How about this one my Brethren. I'm an African American West Indian. My lodge is AF&AM what would be termed "mainstream". However, we are predominantly African American West Indian. We are not Prince Hall affiliated.
Now when I meet my brothers in Prince Hall. I get questions like, "Why are you in that Lodge?".
I've been told several times, you are a Prince Hall Mason, your just not in a Prince Hall Lodge.
Now, the Caucasian and Middle Eastern Brethren in my lodge prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that all men can live in unity. Congregating in lodge one thing but when that brotherly live continues beyond the temple, that's a beautiful thing to see, the tolerance masonry speaks of executed at its finest.
In regards to the subject of coming together, I remain optimistic. Right now, in the Virgin Islands, there is a Prince Hall Lodge who is severing its ties with Georgia. They will move, if they haven't already, their affiliation to Barbados. This is the same jurisdiction my Lodge falls under. I will, and they will be able to visit. This is a beautiful thing. In recent days past, that was not possible.
We have a different dynamic of race and cultures here. I've lived in Boston and New York. And I must say race relations in the islands isn't as complicated. However, what I do know is, based on what I have experienced in masonry, it is possible to subdue this topic. Someone said it on this thread, the old guys don't have to die. We, the NOT SO OLD have a say and a right to act.
All we have to do is speak loudly. This is our masonry in my eyes. The man that raised me made that clear. In fact he feels he has done such a good job in raising MMs that he wants to observe us in action vs dictate them. Sorry I was so long winded but I truly want this one trampled on.
Peace my Brethren
My Freemasonry HD