More With WR and BT

(Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. – Galatians 6:10)

Reader Update: WR and BT, two close friends since high school, began an open and honest conversation about race after BT was led to ask his friend to comment on actions and positions of local and national public figures that seemed, at least to him, to be strongly and unfairly racially motivated.

Each of them had incidents in their lives that caused concern and made them take an in depth look at their own friendship.
Since the subject of race was a sensitive one, they decided to talk about it from a personal perspective and do so in small doses at a time.

Both have family members who are always motivated by race, usually negatively, and each find themselves a target of those family members who do not like, nor understand, their blind loyalty to each other.

(Characters) WR: A Venerable Man and BT: A Venerable Man

Actors: You the Reader

Setting: The Conference Room at the offices of W & B Transports. A reporter from the local newspaper has come to interview the duo about the success of their business and their recent acquisition of an $8 million contract with the Port of Savannah. She is also interested in the success of their long standing friendship.

Reporter: Gentlemen, thank you for giving me the time to talk with you. I’d like to start by asking about this incredible business deal you just got with the Port of Savannah.How did that come about?

WR: First, thank you for wanting to talk with us. We do feel blessed, let me tell you. Our Senator contacted us about a year ago and told us about the plans for expanding the port and the new initiative the state was putting in place to do more business globally. So we added our business to the list of potential contractors interested in doing business with them. And here we are.
Reporter: How does that work? With the port I mean.

BT: The state is doing more and more business internationally since they put their Global Partners plan in place. The majority of the goods and services from those countries are shipped to the port for distribution throughout the U.S. We were considered the ideal company to do business because of our partnership and our reputation for moving products across the country in a timely fashion.
(WR & BT do a high five and shout “W & B Moves”)

Reporter: That’s your slogan right? I’ve seen it on your trucks. How many trucks are in your fleet?
WR: 40 right now. We plan to add an additional 40 to start, in about a month.

Reporter: Well, congratulations on your contract. Now let’s talk about the partnership the two of you have formed. I know that the two of you have been friends since high school, where you were both celebrated athletes and throughout your professional careers.
How did the two of you decide to join forces and go into business together, and back in your hometown at that?

BT: I got injured first and was going to be cut from the Bills, so I decided it was time to give it all up and concentrate on getting well.

My wife and I decided to return here, one, so that we could be close to both of our parents and also because I knew the peace and quiet would be good for my recovery and it’s a great place to raise our kids. So we came home.

Reporter: Any regrets?

BT: Oh, heavens no! It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to us.

I asked WR to become my business partner when I bought five big rigs at an auction and had no earthly idea what I would do with them, or for that matter why I bought them.

It was my first time at an auction and I got caught up in the moment, plus the deal was too good to pass up my father told me.
Reporter: I know you lost your father last year. Was he happy to have you back home?

BT: Oh yeah. He said it would be a shame if I didn’t share my experiences with local kids. In fact he also got me involved with the youth program at church.

He was so worried about the dropout rate among the kids in the community and felt I could perhaps influence some of them by giving them hope and letting them get to know someone who didn’t drop out and went on to become successful… I guess.

Reporter: Why do you say “I guess”?
BT: Because I’ve heard the talk from both sides, and I am very much aware that I get treated differently by both sides and I know it’s mainly because of my success as a sports figure. I have hidden behind the fact that WR and I saw no color in our friendship. Maybe we turned a blind eye to it all. I just feel…

WR: (cutting him off) Man, you have nothing to apologize for…your success, your race or whatever. Absolutely nothing! And the ones who can’t see past that are the ones who need help.

BT: Yeah I suppose so. I love you man (they do a fist bump).
Reporter: With your success, to this day do you still feel how you’re treated is race related?

BT: I am still treated differently, and yes some of it is race related.

Reporter: How do you deal with the race issue when it confronts you?

BT: I’ve always just ignored it unless it is so blatant that I have to speak on it.

Reporter: What prompts you to ‘speak on it’, as you say?

BT: When I’m denied common respect as a man, a human being and as a businessman when submitting contracts that are not even considered just because of the color of my skin.

Reporter: Do you think that will ever change?

BT: As a Christian I can only hope so. But in my heart I am not so sure.

Reporter: How about you WR? What made you move back home?

WR: Pretty much the same things that made BT decide to. I was on the waiver list for the Giants and knew it was just a matter of time that I would be totally out. When he told me that he and Carol were moving back I started to think about it and the more I thought about it, it became clear that it was the right thing to do for me as well.

Mom and Dad were thrilled about it. One of the best things to happen since coming home was marrying my high school sweetheart 3 years ago.

Reporter: Oh yeah, and thanks for letting my staff cover the wedding, with all the celebrities attending it was like a scene out of a Hollywood movie. It was great for the paper and great for our town I thought.

WR: Good. We had such a great time and have great memories.
Reporter: (hesitant) – Uh, tell me about the incident that happened afterwards.

WR: Oh, you mean the altercation between my first cousin and BT?
Reporter: Yes.

WR: (puzzled that the reporter knew, since the incident happened in a private setting after the weeding, he answers slowly) Well, in a nutshell, my cousin was full of too many glasses of Cristal and started talking loudly about me not going into business with him instead of a N—–. He was mainly angry because I did not choose him as my best man.

Reporter: How did you feel about the incident BT?

BT: (takes a deep breath,) – well, I handled it by basically just walking away.

Reporter: Walking away? Why? Did you not defend yourself or tell your friend here about it?

BT: My friendship with WR is genuine so I never told him. To get involved in a spat with an anger aimed at who I am is not an argument I can win, or anybody can win, if the person is trying to negate your worth as a person. That is a problem they have to take up with God…