Jacqueline and I met in 1998 I was in the
military Stationed in Omaha Nebraska. I had just committed what many
considered the worst blunder of my life, I had decided to leave the financial
security of being in the Armed Forces and exception Honorable Discharge. I
had bigger dreams than just being an Airman in the United States Airforce. I
always dreamed of being an Architect, driving a convertible Saab automobile
living in a cool loft apartment located in the heart of a big city. So I took the
leap and enrolled at the University of Nebraska majoring in Architecture.
I first became aware of Jacqueline at a crowded dance party, hosted by
a Greek Fraternity called Alpha Phi Alpha in the main hall of the student
center. I attended the party because I was very interested in joining the
prestigious Fraternity, which promoted themselves "Men of Distinction", and
I wanted to be viewed in the same way. But in reality, I was just a shy person
lacking the confidence, so I merely stood awkwardly beside a pillar
occasionally attempting to engage this and that person in serious conversation
with little success. Jacqueline was joyously leaping about to the reggae
music, laughing and clapping her hands as if she had no cares in the world.
She was the epitome of a free spirit. Jacqueline was dancing with tall,
fashionably dressed BI-racial guy. A strange feeling arose in me as I saw
them sit down on a couch together to talk. I watched them out of the corner
of my eye, wondering if they were more than friends were. But what reason
did I have to wonder at such things? I didn't even know her. Besides, she
was of a different race and we seemed to have little in common.
Some of the women I had dated through college had been of different
racial Backgrounds and I had enjoyed and benefited from the experience, but
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