Kelly | September 4, 2013 6:25 PM
Bray D, I like your letter. You are talking from experience. Experience is the best teacher. I'd have to agree with you that tons of Whites get attacked, robbed, etc by Blacks-- depending on where you live. I agree that whom ever controls the media, tells Blacks that they are still being attacked by Whites at such a rate that we should be alarmed. Whites often take what they see Blacks do on t.v. ( aka entertainment, aka a job) and apply it to all of us. If Blacks applied that same thing to Whites they'd have tons of reasons not to trust too. Then again, they don't have to look at entertainment t.v.- Some White men think it's ok to steal millions of dollars from seniors, tuck it away in a safe account, go to jail for a little while and come back to live off others hard earned money....But I digress.
It's interesting that Blacks forget that at first they were sold by their own people. Now, they may not have known that the slaves were going to be treated in such a manner, but they were sold by other Africans first. They also forget that we are still strangers in a land that doesn't belong to us. We ARE outsiders. Until we fully assimilate into the majority culture we will NEVER be accepted. This is the way things are. Euro-centric culture has touched just about every surface and every ethnic group there is no running away.
I'm 5'2, brown-skinned and a woman. I have had white women grab their purses and walk fast or cross the street. I have had older white people say everything but the word, "nigger". I have had whites say " you're so articulate" ( which means that they assume that because I'm Black I don't know how to speak English). I've had white people surprised that I knew my childhood home (which I own) was built by world renown architect Frank Lloyd Wright. When I worked retail (My husband and I own our own business) I had whites refuse to hand me money and slam it on the counter ( I'd ever so graciously pick it all up, count it and HAND them their change). I've had white people do even worst to my brothers. I've seen the difference in how my brother was treated when he wore his military uniform and when he wore jeans and a button down. Is he supposed to wear his uniform whenever he walks the streets to get respect?
I've also seen blacks mistreating blacks. Blacks mistreating others. You'd think if life was so horrible you'd understand what someone else was going through (having been through it yourself) and act accordingly. We've all heard about the poor people crimes- drive-by shootings ( and getting the wrong person!), kids killing over material possesions, teens over gang affliations, selling drugs, using drugs, wearing the pants off the butt, doing poorly in school, Black women getting mad at white women- but being ok with sharing men with other black women, terrible customer service from a Black Woman...I could go on and on. And no, these are not issues that are exclusive to the Black community ( we still don't have a uni-bommer, or Columbine, or Gacy).
So yeah Blacks still have it bad, sometimes. Yep (some) White people hate Blacks. Some Whites fear Blacks ( everyone has the right to protect themselves if they feel threatened, and some Blacks are scary. I make sure my vehicle doors are locked while driving through certain parts of the city). Some Blacks wish things were fair. They won't be. Stop asking. It's their culture. If you ask a random White person, " what are your plans to hold a Black person back?" They'd probably look at you with disdain.
Because a person handling their business doesn't have time to worry about you and yours. That's your job. Whites MAY have it easier, because they are apart of the system. But if you asked them, they had to work in school, stay focused, compete, plan, they've had sorrows, pains, disappointments, people around discouraging them, deaths in their family, wronged by another human ( of their same race or different). It's called life. Stop asking for reparations they aren't going to give it to you. They will give it to everyone but you. I understand the idea, but so many people profited from the African Slave trade....who would pay first? how much would be paid? would it go to those that are 'Black' in America? People who haven't lived the American Black experience yet are called Black because they have a little tint? If it was money what would you do with it?
As for making them comfortable. If you're the odd ball it's your job to blend in. Or don't go. If you don't want them treating you crazy don't treat them crazy. So times the oppressed must be the example for the oppressor.
I'm not going to let some dummy's hate or worse-indifference stop me from living the life I'm supposed to live. Ignore the racist treatment, but love your neighbor. You may make all the difference in the world with Love. Remember that all of this nonsense is generalizations. My best friend is white. I love her. She loves me. I call her Mom "mom" ( and I have my own very good mother). And no one is going to tell me anything different.
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