- Joined
- Sep 1, 2009
- Messages
- 10,295
There has been racism that has burned into the memory of some of my family members.
My niece is white and hispanic. She looks like a dark haired, ivory skinned, bright blue eyed white girl. She manages a restaurant and has funny stories about when she started and spent the day listening to the spanish speaking staff talking about the new lazy white manager. She waited to the end of the day to let them know in fluent spanish how happy she was to be thereShe holds no grudge at all, as she considers herself a Latina
I've worked as the only white girl in a 40+ person black and asian people baking in a mess hall in Virginia. I never had a moment where anyone was more than a team member with me. People were just plain friendly. So was I. Then again, I didn't expect anything but friendly.
There are some family members that have scars that I am not sure will heal and may always have some feelings. The father had worked himself up to near the very top of a gov. agency. Not really my story to tell, so I am going to stay vague. He was up for promotion and had years of service and much experience in the position. He was told he could not have the promotion because he was not black. A black man was hired with a fraction of his education and experience (as it was told to me). He helped do his job as well as his own
Years later, he finally got to the top of his career. A new governor came in and he was told point blank he was fired, his job should belong to a black man. At that point, the position was a political appointment. So, he ended up being a clerk in a hardware store for years until he rebuilt a career elsewhere.
So, I've had some conversations. I don't get far. Racism (any type) is a poison and it causes people to be harmed, hurt and bitter.
I'm sorry your father went through that. It can't have been easy!
I had similar situations in my life to what you describe -- everyone friendly. That is how I grew up. I was used to everyone being a team or a family (my family has people from several different countries, different religions, etc) and never expected that it was different than that. It wasn't until recent years that I started to see anything else and have worked hard to give every benefit of the doubt possible. I figure it is the least I can do as I don't know what anyone else has been through.
Your last statement really hits it exactly. It is a poison. When people have to constantly watch how exactly they word things because every day things are now "racist" (no can do, as an example that comes to mind) and reading into every tiny action of others, it just snowballs out of control.
I hope our world can grow so that ALL people are seen as people. Each one deserving of basic respects and kindness. Each one unique. Each one being a human first and anything else they feel like identifying with after that without being forced into an identification they don't want.(That is not coming across as clear as I want! What I am aiming for is that each person can be who they are. People should be proud of their heritage/culture/religion/whatever and welcome to share it if they choose or keep it more private if they choose. Not every white person is Christian. Not every black person is African. Not every red head is Irish. There is nothing wrong with being any of those, but the outward appearance does not mean they are and respecting each person enough to let them share who they are rather than assign to them seems a common courtesy that should be given to all.)
I thought liberals was against gun violences? ..
300x240.png)