White Men I Love, White Men I Hate by Chuck Snowden

Chuck Snowden (formerly of Casey Middle School and Fairview High School) is one man I will never forget. He was my PE teacher for all three years of Middle School. At the time he was known as the hard gym teacher (there was an alternative who taught PE at the same time) and anyone that wanted to switch into or out of his class was welcome to. I always chose to be in his class because he was one of the only teachers I've ever met who clearly loved his students. He loved his students so much that I was always exhausted from his class and he loved us enough to force us to write weekly reports to him about what was going on in our lives. He would read those reports in class and make comments, appreciative and instructive, right after we handed them to him.

Anyhow, I'm mentioning this story because I just finished his book White Men I Love, White Men I Hate. The prologue has an impassioned warning that the book is about LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and he means it. Despite the title most of the book is about white men, both his friends and historical figures, that he loves and only occasionally will he focus on the ones he hates. Of course every other third story (at least!) involves his wife, May, whom is obviously the primary desire of his over-sized heart.

He delves into history (his field of study) in a sort of uneven manner. It's vital to him to understand America's past and his determination to love people results in some unexpected people of affection. There's not a hint of resentment towards Thomas Jefferson, for instance. Coach Snowden is convinced that the Jefferson loved the slave he fathered a child with and even goes so far to suggest that a great man like Jefferson should be thanked for spreading his genes around. Snowden also heaps praise upon Winston Churchill (for the obvious reason) but doesn't mention any criticism at all of Churchill's questionable post WWII decisions. In Coach Snowden's eyes a man who was great enough to stop Hitler can be forgiven for his other sins. The author calls this kind of judgment the work of a "Wise Barbarian" and I am not about to argue with him.

His writing style is so straightforward I could hear his voice and his message so inclusive that you'd have to be an angry and sullen person to take offense at his observations about white people, black people, and America. He states again and again that he's an unabashed Christian, a lifelong Democrat, and a patriot so unless you're angry atheist Republican who hates America (I know you're out there) there's something in the book for you. I can't recommend it enough.

Despite how horrible Middle School was I can always rely on memories of him and how much he cared to make it seem a little brighter. One of the primary reasons I always opted for his class was because it was the only place in Boulder where my twelve year old self could walk into a gym and have a giant African American bellow out "Hello, Mr. Ford! How are you today?" I was an awkward, Star Trek loving, mid-pubescent*, drama nerd, whose home life was imploding- having a guy like Coach Snowden interested in me nearly every day could be the difference between self-worth and self-pity. That's a debt I can only pay forward.

*Even if little else has changed at least I am done with puberty.