My Niece and the Racist Attendant!
So my niece and a car full of teenagers went to a gas station in VA. My niece, who has a chocolate brown complexion, is a size zero, is very articulate and cute as a button, and most of the friends in the car, went inside the gas station. While being closely watched, they walked around and talked about their plans for the evening. My niece broke from the group and went and asked the male attendant if they had a bathroom. Without speaking he shook his head no. As my niece browsed around looking at potato chips and snacks, one of her friends that was in the car and also a part of their group (unbeknownst to the attendant), came inside. Her friend asked the same attendant the same question: do you have a bathroom? However, this time he immediately said yes and directed her to it! As you can probably guess by the title of this post, there was a difference. My niece and the group she came in with were black and the friend that came in later was white! Proud as I can be of her, my niece immediately spoke up and said, hey, when I asked you, you told me that you didn’t have a bathroom! He ignored her but then stared at her when her white friend came out of the bathroom and began talking to her! OMIGOODNESS! The bible talks about God winking at ignorance. My eye would be sore from winking repeatedly at that attendant!
Pinch me and wake me up! Aren’t we in the year 2009? Didn’t we just witness the most remarkable occasion, of the highest ranking official position in the United States of America, being voted on by we the people and consequently filled with an African American/black man? Are we still not at the place where little black boys and black girls are able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers? Haven’t we yet been able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood? Are we still not able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we are free this day? Aren’t we, all of God’s children – black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics –able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last”? I guess not…
Remember the outdoor game we played as children called “Mother May I”? You got to take some baby steps, normal steps and occasionally you got to take some giant steps! Do you remember? As long as we were taking steps, even if baby steps, we were still moving forward! But the sadness came when we had to take the backwards step and loose momentum on our opponent. We are losing momentum! As pretty as some things might look on the outside of this world, inside many homes and inside many hearts racial hatred is the drug of choice and is embedded deep down in the crevices and stuck to the walls of their being. Just like toxic waste is packed in our body and leaves us feeling tired, bloated and weighed down with pounds of waste and toxins and sitting there for years; the same is true with the deadly toxins associated with racial hatred. And as far as I can tell, the only antioxidants for racial hatred are acceptance and love! That is a whole other post…
Needless to say, the next time my niece goes into a gas station in Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Utah, California, Oklahoma or 123 Anywhere Blvd, in Everywhere, USA; I want her to be given the same privileges, respect, response, reverence, and kindness the cute little white girl in front of her, in back of her or beside her is given. This is just a travesty! As my brother would say, I’m through. Pray my strength in the Lord!
Holla back…
It’s the United States of America that we live in. Yet our state of cultural and racial harmony is not united. We have a ways to go to get to that state of consciousness that Prophet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prophesied. An individual’s level of understanding and ignorance does not represent an entire race or generation. The same mix of generations that voted for Obama is accompanied by the same mix of individuals that voted against him. I believe God can gift us with blessings in disguise. One day that man who told your niece that they didn’t have a restroom she could use, will one day be saved by a young black girl. Only until he hits rock bottom, and has a life changing experience will he wake up and realize that we are all in this thing together. I will pray for that man in the gas station and all others who are ignorant and lack understanding. Jesus set the example for us when He said, “forgive them for they know not what they do”.
I’ll piggyback off what Ronald said and add that everybody did not join hands with us to sing Free at Last or We shall overcome. Unfortunately, racism to some is so deeply ingrained that the thought of joining hands with us, let alone showing one of us a bathroom that they’ll later have to use themselves, is unthinkable. Have you ever watched the movie “Crash”? It was a great depiction of how much racism, ignorance and prejudice against all races is in our society. The greater thing is that it also showed a coming together of most of the characters that were at odds with each other. Sometimes exposing the truth can help eradicate the problem. It usually works that way with the devil. But the process of exposure is not easy or pain free. We’ve been forced to grow thick skin for these kind of encounters that probably will still happen to us at one point or another. I applaud her for handling the situation very well, while standing her ground. Ignorant behavior does not have to breed the return of the same.
I would have went in that bathroom and let out golden showers everywhere. Then I would have went and told the attendant, if you had a bathroom I would tell you that someone made it rain in there and clean it, but you dont. So have a good day!
@Kendall Blake – Ok, I know I shouldn’t be laughing at that but I found myself bouncing up and down with laughter. Stop it Kendall! You sound like a young man without proper upbringing!
That kind of showering is kind of hard for girls to do, but we could still make a good effort on the seat and floor. Kendall, look at what you started!
@Monique Davis – Pray church!
Right on “cute Niece”!!! right on. Kathy, did you need to change in to another robe after you gave that word, baby? Kendall, you are a mess, but I kinda like that idea…uh, I mean, uh, I should probably go down in prayer about now.
That was my baby Kandy Barr that experienced this! It took every ounce of holy ghost to keep from going down there and beating the sausage outta that man!
I guess it’s true: God rains on the just as well as the unjust…he shows mercy and compassion to everyone…cause there was gonna be a situation!!!
I know! I couldn’t stand it but I was too far away (and not really a fighter) to do anything about it, so I had to write about it! Auntie Kathy can’t stand that kind of stuff!
Its a shame and Kendall is crazy! But as much as we would like it to be different racism still exists It would be somewhat ignorant of us to assume that just because our president is African American that racism will just end One could hope but it just isn’t so! Racism and hatred is inbred and passed down it is taught and learned behavior racism will only end when ppl choose to see the content of character versus the color of skin It will only change when those taught that will change and choose to teach a new way Until then we will have to sit wherever we must walk wherever we must and demonstrate however we must
@Karlissa – Alright little Martina Luthia Jr! I like that! Ain’t Kendall a mess!
HEY YELLA AREN’T YOU GOING TO GET IN ON THIS ONE?
delores goodson’s last blog post..Outrage Over ‘Game of Life’
lol…Yeah I was just going to say doesn’t this prove my point. Evidently you must realize that I was right. People are treated different because of their color/ hue/ looks etc. I’d be lying Delores if I didn’t admit that at times I’ve enjoyed being “yella.” Ask a fat person how they feel. I have afriend and she can’t get a date with a decent guy for nothing. All the ex cons and unemployeed guys hit on her.
We treat white people bad also…..Think about it.
@half and half (mary) – I don’t treat white people bad, you might, but I don’t and I also don’t buy that your fat friend can only get dates with ex-cons and unemployed guys. That sounds stupid. What about the not so attractive employed men? Who do they date? But let’s say what you are saying is true, tell her to come to the south. Men aren’t as simple as the ones where you are from obviously. They love all women!
@Kathy – lol and yes!!!!!!
@half and half (mary) – if that aint the truth! i just said not too long ago all the WRONG guys wanna talk to me…i can’t help that due to genetics, as well as a missing desire to exercise, there is more of me to love! lol
@Kathy Curry – where? must be GA cuz sc ain’t hittin on much! esp not saved dudes!
Come to the military/Army capital and I GUARANTEE you will find one!
Kathy, great sermon, I’ll be handing you your love offering when I see you. Kendall, you are bad. As for what Kana had to experience, you know me…..I need the name of the gas station and attendant…you do know he has a supervisor that needs to be made aware of this situation. One thing I can say that I heard from Eddie Murphy a couple years ago that I wholeheartedly agree with “racism is alive and well!” It’s so sad, with all the strides we’ve made, we seemingly still have a long way to go! PRAY saints!!!!
Hello everyone! I’m the mother of the chocolate brown, size zero, articulate, cute as a button sweetie. It took me a while but I’m finally here (busy day). Let me say, when my husband told me what happened to my baby it was a week or two after it had happened. But for me it felt like it happened 15 minutes before he told me. I started talking in soprano. You know, your voice all high and all you can keep saying is What! What! OH #&*@ NO! Where’s my shoes? Somebody get my purse. What did he look like? What gas station was it? In my mind, I was all in his grill ready to catch a case. How in the world is some Indian, Arab, Pakistan alien going to not let her use the restroom? You know that’s who was running the place cause they run most of them in this area. Ya’ll just don’t understand. My eye is twitching right now. Like I heard my pastor say, if you think about a thing too long your mind will take you right back to that very moment and all those same feelings will come back. If you ain’t careful. This post took me back. I’m putting on my shoes right now. PRAY! :0)
Now, half and half let me just say this. I know women who aren’t small but have had plenty of men. And if you look at all the black men who have white women, 95% of the white women are fat and/or ugly. But the men think they really have something on their arm. Whatever! The same goes for light skin women. Sometimes that’s all ya’ll got. Just bright for no good reason. Almost red. I heard all light skinned people are off. But since we can’t see you, I bet you’re not as light as you think you are, or small, or cute for that matter. You probably REALLY need to go somewhere and sit down. PRAY! :0)
I’m asking myself, where am I at? Some crack house? Have you and Kathy been hitting the pipe?
@Kathy Curry –
The only thing that hinds most people from truth is their own preconceived ideas. I sound stupid to a lot of people, but that is due to the fact that I’m blessed with a head capable of containing more matter.
@half and half (mary) – huh?
My difinition of stupid….
oh ok.
What’s this really about, racist or light skin vs dark skin?
lol. Did the post say anything at all about light skinned or dark skinned people? It is clearly about racism. Now, if others have digressed in their comments, sobeit. the post is about an experience my niece had that was, without a dobut, due to the fact that she is black. Any shade…
Now, half and half let me just say this. I know women who aren’t small but have had plenty of men. And if you look at all the black men who have white women, 95% of the white women are fat and/or ugly. But the men think they really have something on their arm. Whatever! The same goes for light skin women. Sometimes that’s all ya’ll got. Just bright for no good reason. Almost red. I heard all light skinned people are off. But since we can’t see you, I bet you’re not as light as you think you are, or small, or cute for that matter. You probably REALLY need to go somewhere and sit down. PRAY! :0)
Perhaps this is where the confusion started, silly me.
@CarolRWM – As I said, if those commenting digress, that is what blogging is all about. You asked: What’s this really about, racist or light skin vs dark skin? I was just answering your question since you seemed confused about what the actually, story/post/article was about. I can’t control what the conversation is after I put up the post. To be real clear, this is about racism.
Now we all know that I sgree with Carol on half and half. I loved the part aboout all light skinned people being off, but since you are so proud of it, half and half, go for it. Even if you don sit down and pray, I will be praying for you, and that is not prey but PRAYING for you. I knew I was not the only one that felt this way.
@delores goodson – You have misunderstood, Carol doesn’t agree with with you! She was just quoting an earlier comment.
Rofl………..I think the entire barnyard is full of confused cackling hens…
For the record maybe you are all little chocolate bunnies and don’t know what it’s like to be hurt by other blacks. I’ve been attacked because of my color by whites and blacks. Do you think my feelings stop and say, “You’re not suppose to be hurt Mary because they were black?”
None of you get it. It’s like nothing registers with you. If someone says you’re ugly does it hurt more if it comes from a white person than a black?
It seems like you’d rather just be right than maybe take a moment to consider ideas that aren’t your own.
I think it is sad that my baby has had to experience this, but this is a sign to just let us know that it still exists and we have a long way to go….eventhough we have a black president. This also let’s us know that it’s not only whites that see us as inferior, but it’s also those that come from “po” countries as well. I understand totally how she must have felt because where I grew up I experience racism my entire childhood, and not just from the white folks. There was no reason for her to be treated like that and this must be dealt with.
I feel like her mother…..this is the first I’ve heard of this and I want to get up our of my sick bed, travel to VA find the attendant and get with him. “WHAT THE HELL” You don’t have the right to treat my babies like that, who do you think you are. I feel like opening up a can of whip @$& and tearing the place up. Come on K-boogie ridedownthere.com.
Now most of you know who I am……if you don’t let me tell you….I am a good taste of dark chocolate candy. I not only experienced racism for my color….I also caught it because of my gov’t name. In my younger years “light-skinnedness” & long-hair was the it thing. If you had that you had it all……so you thought anyway. But honey let me tell you…..you didn’t have anything…….if you wanted sweetness you needed to pick a darker berry. “THE BLACKER THE BERRY THE SWEETER THE JUICE” We all know this is true…..those light berries are bitter and just don’t have any juice at all.
K-Boogie……you are so correct in your statement……redbones are crazy…..simply crazy.
Free, I know that’s right. Let me find out the particulars and we can ride down there. Ahhhhhh :0)
FYI – My VA friends call me K-Boogie
I dont like this at all, Im with Kendall on this one!!!!
That’s why this yella got her sum chocolate…….
@half and half – I’m not sure what that meant.