J.T. Thompson is just one man, but what he is doing is an extraordinary example of selflessness and altruism. “Everyone has to stand for something,” he says, and he created the One Human Family project, which prints and distributes free One Human Family bumper stickers all around the world. It may seem on the surface to be a small, even trivial pursuit, just a bumper sticker and an idea, but I believe the potential is enormous.
In J.T.’s own words, “Our modern world tells us daily – and incorrectly – how ‘separate’ we all are. From politics to religion to sports and even entertainment, we’re told it’s ‘us against them.’ Powerful leaders promote this concept, allowing them to keep control of their people through monotheism, nationalism, racism, sexism, homophobia and all other kinds of scapegoating rhetoric. Examine closely the true motives of everyone that tries to tell you it’s ‘us against them,’ because the truth is that there is no ‘them.’ There never was and never will be. There is only ‘us,’ one human family.”
Sometimes the simplest concepts can be the most profound. Can anyone change the world with a bumper sticker? Why not? Terrorists did it with box cutters. Look how a mere handful of religious zealots onboard three of our airplanes changed our modern world. I’m certain that if those hijackers commandeering our planes had a better grasp of the truth that we are in fact all one human family, this atrocity never would have happened. Unfortunately, they were brainwashed with the illusion that we are all separate.
One person can change the world. In the song “Imagine,” the late John Lennon wrote, “You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one – maybe someday you’ll join us and the world will live as one.” Those words awoke a generation of peace-loving souls, and they ring truer than ever today. And anthropologist Margaret Mead reinforces this truth: “Never doubt that a small group of dedicated individuals can change the world – in fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Back in the mid-1970s, J.T. witnessed a group of Blacks from the NAACP demonstrating for equal rights for gays and lesbians in Los Angeles. He realized that if all oppressed minorities joined together, shoulder-to-shoulder, to support each other, they would no longer be a minority. “It only takes a couple minorities to become a majority,” he notes.
The One Human Family Foundation is the vehicle: a nonprofit, all-volunteer group that prints bumper stickers and sends them out all over the world. Through the efforts of people like J.T. Thompson, I’m filled with more hope than I’ve felt for a very long time that the world can be united (and I’m an extreme pessimist!).
On Oct. 17, 2000, Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley announced that “the genie of human equality is out of the bottle,” and the entire city commission voted unanimously to proclaim “One Human Family” to be the official philosophy of Key West. The strongly-worded proclamation made Key West the first municipality anywhere to declare that oppression can never be tolerated anywhere in the world, by anyone. Key West, much like the Netherlands, has long been a bastion of inclusion and acceptance of alternative views and lifestyles.
We are one human family, and to survive as a planet, we must invite everyone to live up to that. We must not only welcome, but also encourage diversity. Diversity is the strength of survival, from the genetic level all the way up to human civilization. (Just imagine how boring the world would be if we were all alike. 1984!)
To make a long story short, the Simon Wiesenthal Center in L.A. now distributes these bumper stickers worldwide in all five of their Holocaust museums. The AFL-CIO at General Motors in Dayton, Ohio, has adopted the One Human Family idea for their diversity-training program, and Chairman Daniel Poffenberger says, “You are truly an inspiration to my old 1960s values. The flame still flickers and hope remains alive!” Groups and individuals from Portland to Pakistan are attaching these stickers to their vehicles to show their solidarity.
There have been nearly 800,000 bumper stickers distributed so far, starting with the first 25,000 that Mr. Thompson paid for by himself. Maybe your town council can adopt “One Human Family” as their official philosophy, too.
Almost immediately after 9/11, there was no shortage of “entrepreneurs” selling American flags, T-shirts and almost anything patriotic to make money on one of the greatest tragedies this country has ever experienced. (This is one of the reasons the non-capitalists hate us!) J.T. points out that there is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. Patriotism is a good thing (being proud of who we are), but excessive nationalism can lead to xenophobia (the fear of foreigners).
I saw my first “One Human Family” sticker on a bicycle in Key West. The next day I saw a stack of them in a restaurant. I picked one up and was surprised and amazed when I read, “This sticker is always given away for free.” OHF encourages the use, duplication and proliferation of their bumper stickers and philosophy.
J.T. is the art director of Solares Hill Design Group, an advertising design studio he started with his best friend in Key West in 1981. As busy a man as he is, he still has time to regularly email me with news and updates on the One Human Family project. This is a truly altruistic organization founded by a truly remarkable man. And, he insists, this is just the beginning.
He plans on traveling to Sydney, Australia this year to show that One Human Family is indeed global, taking 200,000 bumper stickers with him. And now that the project has grown so well, he also needs help in financing the printing of the stickers. Any contribution is welcomed. All monies contributed go to the printing and mailing of OHF stickers, never to individuals. There are no “administrative executives” making six-figure salaries here.
If you would like some free bumper stickers, send a SASE to One Human Family, P.O. Box 972, Key West, Fla. 33041 or email him at jt@designkw.com. I strongly urge everyone to write and get a bumper sticker, or two, or 20. Keep the momentum going, mail them to friends far and wide, send a small contribution.
This is something we rarely see today, a truly worthwhile cause we can feel good about helping. If you think there is too much focus on negative news, here’s your chance to work for something that’s positive. I have to say that I’ve never felt this strongly about anything. Let’s keep the fire burning. And as John Lennon said, “Maybe someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.” Amen!
Chris Capp, a former native and long-time resident of LBI, now lives in Key West and Onancock, Va.
