Judy Says What?

Lately I have been directing energies and attention to world causes whenever possible.  If you look back at my recent blog posts, racism has been a popular topic.  This because every time I went looking for news it was right there in my face.  Every day I am exposed to a continuation of this topic.  Every day I tell myself to leave it alone for now because of the fear of overexposure and loss of interest.  I don’t want my blog to end up having the appearance of having a ‘theme topic’ either.  Yet today I saw this article and I took it as a sign that I must break my protocol and continue for this moment with the topic of racism. 

Most of us have read the recent story about Henry Louis Gates Jr. - The Harvard professor who recently experienced a run-in with police in Cambridge Mass.  Today I was reading more about the man and was truly shocked when he recounts what it was like existing in a tony American neighborhood as an African American.  He tells us what it was like walking down the street at night, afraid to be stopped by police for being the only black man in the vicinity.  Feeling that when he didn’t have his wallet & ID he might well end up in jail.  He speaks of feeling a need to ask taxi drivers that drove him home to please wait while he enters his home so he doesn’t get arrested for ‘breaking in.’  He remembers how he felt it necessary to cross the street when white women passed by to avoid trouble.  He says it was degrading.

As one reads the account, at first they may feel that his story may expose a hint of paranoia; then to realize that those feelings would stem from somewhere.  Then yes, it seems as it must have been learned behavior.  But at no time does his story become more real, and at no time does his story deliver more impact of the truth of his words than when he tells of the story behind the recent headline.  He spoke of struggling upon trying to unlock the door to his home.  He entered his home through the back door and tried to open the door from inside, it still would not open.  He and his driver forced it open.  The rest of his story I would rather you read for yourselves if you have not done so already, as it is truly open to interpretation.  Links at page bottom. 

In the past, I have had to conduct what could have been construed as ’suspicious activity’ to open a door to which I forgot the key.  I have done that a handful of times, never once heard the police sirens… But then again, I am white.

All I can say on what happened next is that that no matter how you look at it, Gates was expressing a lifetime of repression, anger, and hurt.  After it became clear that there was no wrongdoing it seems there were still some questions being asked by the attending officer.  What astounded me was the police officer had expressed surprise at Gates’ reaction to his continued questioning - Or is that mock surprise to make his actions seem less questionable.  Either way, I wrote this story to show you how much hatred there is still in existence in this world.  Is this climate okay with you?  Didn’t think so.

P.S. Lately I have heard a couple of individuals say something to the effect of ‘what is the big deal with racism - it has also affected whites, hispanics, and many other nationalities besides blacks.’  Similar has been said in light of slavery.  What kind of an argument is that anyway?  I am white and have experienced racism in full force where I live.  I don’t consider the fact I have experienced racism makes the story of another individual of a different color any less important.  Just because I am white, I ain’t special enough to judge what is right for the whole world.  Nor should I feel I am so all important I should judge their experience by mine.  Get with the program people!  All racism no matter in what amount of concentration should cease to exist.

CNN Article   Continuation

Washington Post Article

MSNBC Article

Trackback URI | Comments RSS