If there’s one thing we recognize about the passage of time, it’s the fact that things are constantly changing. What may have been commonplace just a few decades ago is now nothing more than a memory. In some cases, change is still taking place and it may be slow in the process but we seem to be moving forward in the right direction. That is the case when it comes to racism.
Howard Foster and Myra Clark were dating in the late 60s in Columbus, Ohio. They were happy and would talk on the phone all hours of the night. The problem was, they had to deal with racist issues and it made it very difficult for them to stay together. Howard had to deal with racism every day and he saw that people were staring at his beloved, so he decided to break up with her.
Four decades would go by without them seeing each other again but they never forgot about the love that they shared with each other. One special day, however, it all changed.
“It was that dream you just never thought would come true … there she was,” Howard said.
They reconnected at a local park in 2013. Howard was happy to have her back and knew that he would never let her go again. They held hands as they sat across from each other at a picnic table and they picked up where they left off.
They were classmates at Columbus West High School and were very happy with each other. Unfortunately, there was a lot of prejudice and racial tension at the time.
Howard even experienced racism among college professors after he graduated. It didn’t matter how well he did, he would end up getting a ‘D’ on the assignment.
Because of this, Howard started to reconsider his relationship with Myra.
“Society wasn’t going to let us be together and she be happy … She’d get tired of the stares; I just thought it was unfair to her,” Howard said. “Her happiness was the most important thing.”
He decided that breaking up was the best choice because he didn’t want her to have to face the same prejudices.
They said their goodbyes and walked away but took one last look at each other.
Myra gave an interview in which she said that she knew that they would see each other again someday.
A mutual friend intervened and they were reunited in 2013.
They are now in their 60s and they are convinced they will never be apart again. They got married in 2015.
They are inseparable and the happiness they share with each other is easy to see.
“We enjoy each other; we really enjoy each other,” Howard said. “I walked away once; I was not going to walk away again.”
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