The Handshake
One of the most peaceful and trusting gestures we have today is the firm clasp of hands between two people. The handshake has symbolized friendship, agreement, and partnership for centuries. Here, the clasping hands refer to a symbol used by Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights movement to indicate his belief that all people must join the fight against racism and inequality in America.
The origin of the handshake goes back to primitive times, when people showed that they did not have any weapons by offering an empty hand in greeting. This indicated a recognition that more safety, more food, and better shelter resulted from community living. Since then, every culture, however simple or sophisticated, has had some means of indicating a desire for peace by a show of hands.
The greeting of the European settlers and the North American Indians consisted of the flat palm raised with fingers pointed to the sky, showing the absence of concealed weapons, followed by a clasping of the hands.
The handshake also represents the diverse ethnic and social organizations of the Hilltop coming together to form one community. From the beginning, the Hilltop has been a multi-racial neighborhood united by class rather than divided by race. Numerous community groups and development agencies come together to improve conditions in the neighborhood through activities such as working to create better housing opportunities and a safer environment