Posted: 6/6/2008 3:18:13 AM EDT
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Wife is a teacher, and for their last days of school they have a guest speaker. The guest speaker is from California, and travels for a living. He wants to experience the local food everywhere he goes, so he asks the teachers what the local landmark food establishments are. He didn't want Olive Garden, Applebees, etc. We have a local BBQ shop that has won a ton of awards for their babyback ribs. Someone mentioned that, and he thought it sounded great. My wife volunteered us to take him, because we were most familiar with it's location. When we picked up the guy, nobody had bothered to mention he was BLACK. I asked my wife if anyone considered it a little stereotypical to suggest a rib joint to a black man. As we ate, I looked around at the customers. It was about 50/50 black/white. It was in a black neighborhood, and the owner is a down to earth black guy. After the awesome ribs, he said he was ready for dessert. He wanted the ice cream that everyone talked about. The local grown ice cream shop is called "Whitey's". link He thought it was so funny he called his wife back in CA and sent her a cell phone pic of the store. Not a single black customer or employee there. He asked about the racial diversity in local schools. He noticed that my wife's school didn't have any. Out of the 1000 students, one is black. I just said "welcome to rural midwest". Black families tend to live in the larger towns. I have no idea why. He commented that he felt out of place at the motel the school had put him in. Small town Iowa, he was probably the only black man there. I felt bad for him. But the school had no idea he was black. Hell, there was no way to tell when you were talking to him. But he was awesome to talk to. Among other things, he is a motivational speaker, so he knows how to engage in a good conversation. We enjoyed the ice cream outside, and had to swat away the gnats as they buzzed around us. I explained that the Black flys were terrible this season... and he said "what, the White flys never bother you?". He was just joking, but it added to the things that made me realize how many little things can cause a black guy to be uncomfortable. Overall, the guy was awesome for a California high school teacher / motivational speaker. (I usually have no use for motivational speakers) |
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A lot of little things can make a black guy uncomfortable? Ever been a white guy in a black neighborhood? My best advice for non-Whiteys... Forget what color you are, it means fucking nothing. That is not a barrier for you with this white man. If someone you encounter displays their ignorance, its no different than what I'd run into as a cracker. Ignorance is not bound to a particular skin color. |
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We bought our home in Davenport 3 years ago yesterday. Our house is right on the border between a dense white and dense black area. I snuck my '69 Chevelle into the new garage one night, as quietly as possible because I didn't know my neighbors, and I didn't want attention from anyone. A week later, my neighbor came home with an enclosed car hauler trailer. I'm sitting on the porch waiting to see what is inside. He starts up the car, and the neighborhood reverberates. lub lub lub lub lub lub lub lub I went over to introduce myself. He is a middle aged black guy. As we are chatting, he opens the side door of the trailer. My jaw drops. He has a '69 Chevelle with a 11:1 compression 454. He showed me pictures of it at the local track with the front wheels in the air. I had no idea black guys drag raced. He said he was one of just a few. He gave me a ride. I'm giggling like a freak'in kid. More power than I've ever seen. My car is very nice, but his is better in every way. Then I invited him over to see my car. When I opened my garage, we bonded instantly. He thought I came over to complain about the noise. When he realized I was a fellow car guy, we were instant friends. He moved away last year. In his words "I'm tired of the ni**ers that live next door" I about shit. But he was right. His neighbors are scum. But his neighbors are mine too. Just not quite as close. |
You are right. And I guess that probably makes me a racist. Call it "situational awareness". I just look for ways to avoid getting myself and others into uncomfortable situations. |