I am going to do a spin off from my brother and sister-in-law’s blog/site. They have what they call Wordplay Wednesday, check it out at 7daybuzz.com. I am going to designate Thursday, or at least this Thursday, as a thought day and call this, Thoughtful Thursday. Here is my thought and I want you to come back and tell me what you think.

With all the talk about racial profiling and race issues, etc., how do you deal with being black in an environment where you see the “race card” used all the time! I work and live in a place where the percentage of minorities is extremely high, especially blacks. Recently I went on a trip with my boss. Unbeknownst to me until that trip, she is 1/2 white and 1/2 Japanese. I am not sure the people who work closely with her know that. I didn’t. It puts a different perspective on things. She then went from a white woman to a woman of color. If Obama – a half white and half black man – can be considered just black, surely I can think of my 1/2 Japanese boss as a woman of color. I had a beautiful time with her. She was lovely. But just this week, I hear whispers and backbiting and grumblings about her being prejudice. (heavy sigh…)

For me to use the race card, it really, really has to slap me in the face and be clear to call! I get so tired of hearing people say, she did that because I am black or you know if that was a white person, she wouldn’t have done that. I have repeatedly told people, “I like her and I don’t agree. I don’t believe that about her and she treats me good!” Maybe, just maybe if you were doing your work the way you were supposed to be doing your work, that wouldn’t have happened. Simple as that! And this particular boss isn’t the only one they say that about. It is a widespread phenomenon here at my place of employment and never ending! And there are so many blacks!!!

My question is:

• What will it take for little boys and girls to grow into big people who own their actions and cease from pulling out the race card?
• When will the card expire?
• Why are they still being distributed?
• Who is endorsing its continued used?
• Where does the card no longer have power?
• How long will it work?

I truly hope we as blacks can get over it and when situations arise, not go to racism as the first option and look at all the facts and possibilities before resorting to the race card.

How has my boss worked in the government system for 22 years, be one of the highest directors in the organization, maintained her promote ability status, do it all in an environment of about 65% blacks and honestly be prejudice?

Guess what, I’ve turned in my “race card”  for a mirror! It was a very eye opening and refreshing experience! Now, I own me and all my thoughts, deeds and actions. I encourage others to do the same!

Holla Back with your Thursday Thought.

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…