I’m truly tired of folk telling me what racism is and isn’t and more importantly how I should feel about it happening to me. This goes for anyone believing that there is not a problem with racism in this country. I don’t care what color you are, to think calling a person the n-word, burning crosses, hanging black people, and running around with a hood on your head is the only form it comes in, is beyond misguided. You want a few examples? I’ll give you some that I’ve experienced and witnessed firsthand.
- Let’s just start with an oldie but goodie, grabbing your purse or moving away awkwardly because someone with brown skin got a little too close.
- Continuously questioning a person of color in a position authority over you.
- Assuming a person of color can only hold a certain position within an organization.
- Asking the only black person on your job questions pertaining to black people as if we speak for our entire race.
- Deeming our natural hairstyles as unprofessional all while asking to touch it.
- Leaving a public pool because a black family decides to take a swim.
- Mispronouncing someone’s name over and over because it’s too ethnic.
- Treating children who act out in the same way differently because one is black and the other is white….this happens also in the justice system once they’re older when it comes to sentencing.
I could go on and on but I’ll stop there. It is time for both blatant and undercover racists to simply own who you are and move forward accordingly. That includes those of you sitting idly by and not calling out your friends and family on their crap thinking. Are you the problem? If you soul search and find that you are, what will your next steps be?
What’s Kay Saying Today? 