Proof that Dispite All Our Progress, Racism is Not Dead

Most people who really know me, know that I highly tolerant and accepting even. I used to be militant and wear my blackness on my sleeve. This was a result of being accused by my black peers of “talking like a white girl,” and feeling like I always had to prove I was black enough. I know it sounds silly, but where I grew up proper English was a black kid’s kryptonite and so I just got used to either being alone and eventually building a multicultural group of friends.

But back to my point, I was terribly disappointed to find out a picture sent out by a local mayor, depicting the lawn of the White House as a watermelon patch. Are you fucking kidding me?! How is this appropriate in any way shape or form?

I’ll let you decide for yourself and even if you think I’m wrong you are more than welcome to let me know in the comments:

I was disturbed to find that there are actually people who really do not to get why one might be offended by this image. They say those of us who are offended are looking for reasons to be so. Just for the record, there is historical context and reason for the offending in this case. What with our new African American president, the caricatures of the black minstrel with the big pink lips eating watermelon…Seriously? There’s no reason to be upset or be disappointed in a public official who circulates something like that around his office?

There is actually a term for people who think racism is dead: enlightened racist. Yes, I know its harsh and I’d hate to think any of my friends (virtual or otherwise) are racists, but the fact is that’s what you are, if you can completely ignore racism and accuse the target of overreacting…sigh

Like I said, I don’t look for reasons to be offended. I was actually more bothered by the defense than the actual image itself. By the fact that people said that it should just be ignored. By this standard, this racist mayor would have been allowed to stay in office and that city would have reverted back to 40 years ago.

Seriously, 40 years is not that long folks…my grandmother was only a teen-ager during the desegregation civil rights movement. Her grand parents had been slaves and like so many African Americans, we have no way to trace our ancestry because we don’t know where we come from. Obviously we have made huge progress between then and now, so I don’t want to harp on the negative history. At the same time, the dismissive attitudes can take their toll.

Fine, don’t be offended. But don’t tell me I should just get over it, or ignore it. Don’t pretend that it can’t be racist because there are no racists anymore. Its not true and it makes you seem even more racist and ignorant than the person who created the image or circulated it. You, dear enlightened racist, are a barrier to progress with your turning a blind eye and denier syndrome. Racism is still very real and depicting the white house – currently inhabited by our first black president – is proof that as far as we have come, we still have a long way to go.

And What Am I Supposed to do From an Hour Away?

Sometimes I really miss working from home…for a number of reasons. One of those reasons was being able to take care of daily things for the kids and still work full-time. That benefit is that when something goes wrong, I get a call from a teacher…I can handle it. Case closed.

Not so easy working and hour from home. Especially when you child kicks another in the back and the principal tells you that your kid needs to be picked up right away.

There was of course the initial shock of hearing that my child did something so ridiculous, then my brain went WTF! Who…can I call to pick this boy up?

I stammered, “I’m in Irvine…” sort of thinking out loud.

“Oh,” said the principal. “You’re at work…?” He read me the people on the emergency card. “Can any of these people come get him.”

“No…” The wheels were still turning. I knew my sister was still at the house, but she didn’t have a phone. I could call the neighbor girl babysitter to let my sister know I needed the boy picked up right away. I told the principal my sister would be there as soon as possible.

I made the call and I guess I didn’t express the urgent nature of the situation because when I called back 20 minutes later, neighbor girl hadn’t even gone to tell my sister anything…She was all “Oh I was just heading…” And What the hell?!

Through grit teeth as polite as I could muster, I told her the boy was waiting at the back gate and it was very important that someone pick the boy up immediately. At this point I didn’t care which one of them did it; the sister, the neighbor girl…There wasn’t time for relaying messages and shit like that when some coachee is standing at the gate with your kid.

Neighbor girl assured me she’d go pick him up right away. I thanked her, took a deep breath and went to a meeting. Cut to an hour later, I have multiple missed calls on my cell, from both the school and the neighbor girl.

Are you freaking kidding me?! Seriously?

She still hadn’t picked up the boy, hadn’t gone to tell the sister that he needed to be picked up…hadn’t done a thing. Said some shit about not knowing which gate to go to…It was all screwy and bottom line was that the boy was staying at school.

After work and happy hour with other editors, I called the neighbor girl in response to a text message saying she wanted to talk. She vomited her frustration into my ear asked for her pay for the week and hung up. I called back and tried to talk to her but she decided she was busy and I told her I’d talk to her later.

I almost didn’t talk to her. I almost just let it go and vented to my sisters my own frustrations. Had I not come home to hear that I had apparently cursed the neighbor girl out. Now I might have sounded short and stressed out, but sometimes things are just urgent. However, I was at work and I know for a fact that I did not use any profanity in any of those phone calls.

So just to clear the air and make sure the neighbor girl knew that I was a real bitch, I knocked on her door and asked her why she was telling people I cursed her out. Of course she back-peddled. I’m grown, she’s a 17-year-old who thought she was grown. There was no intimidation mind you, just a conversation about what really happened. An apology from me for being short with her on the phone, but it was important and she just didn’t seem to get it.

I saw her roll her eyes when I started to lecture, so I stopped.

“Anyway,” I said cutting myself off. “I just wanted to get everything out in the open so we could be done with it. No love lost…” I saw her crack a little bit of a smile. I smiled back, “Can I have a hug?”

We hugged and I told her to take her skinny ass in the house before she caught her death of cold.

Phew! And can you believe that there was more crap that fell on me today?

I’m tired…

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Tags: Stress, WTF

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