... I had so much work to do today. I had two blogs floating in my mind. One about how body language can be used to "mislead", which I do every breath I take, and how under represented/appreciated us Desert Shield/Storm Veterans are. I was contemplating these topics in my mind as I drove to Somersworth from the Goss Building. I was driving slowly, carefully, along Franklin Street (school is now out for the day), when I was passing a group of kids on my right side. As I passed, one teenager jumped up and down calling me a N-gg-r.
>errrrrr<
I went about 20 feet when my foot hit the brake, I spun the car around in a bootlegger's u-turn, and gunned it till I reached the kids. Slamming the brakes, putting the car in park, I hopped out and asked him, "What did you say?"
His face looked a bit startled and he said, "I said nothing." One of the girls in the group said, "I told you that would get a reaction!". I then asked the kid to read my license plate.
I asked him did he understand the nature of a Veteran license plate. When he said no I asked him to look at the back of my car. He said, "Same license plate".
I said read where I bought this car.
He then started getting a little worried. He said, "Damn, that is a rough town." I then told him what part of Philadelphia I grew up in, his face showed his understanding of what rough could really be but then I told him what rough really is. I asked him if he wanted to be tonight's news story.
"Kid killed in drive by shooting for shouting racial epitaphs."
Now, all things being considered, without meaning to do so he complimented me. Most people don't realize it when they deal with me but I am a black man with an annoying white skin condition. Some times so annoying that I want to scratch the damn itchy parts around me. Listening to such casual apathetic bigotry that I listen to on the regular up here in New England is ... mildly insulting.
However it is, for the most part, born of ignorance. Not mal intent, like some Southern States, just not knowing what is and is not okay to do. In fact, some bigotry my wife endures comes from fear of offending never realizing that offense must be intended to be offensive. Accidental offense is nothing more than an opportunity for sharing & learning.
So, today I saved some white kid in Somersworth Ghetto from his silly mouth. While I am proud of the accomplishment, the opportunity troubles me.
The kid has no marks from me. I took no notice of identifying features or marks. Of him or his companions. Only one thing in my memory bothers me. Since it is Thursday it is not likely that any of them where End 68 Hours of Hunger recipients however the generic non-descritive nature of all the back packs that where present makes me realize that I have spent more than just blood on these kids. I have spent time and sweat for the kids in this town and to have one so backhand compliment me with a racial epitaph that could be directed at my father, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, daughter, and wife.... I'm going to spend a lot of time in prayer this evening.
For guidance about the value of charity even towards the uncharitable by nature.
>errrrrr<
I went about 20 feet when my foot hit the brake, I spun the car around in a bootlegger's u-turn, and gunned it till I reached the kids. Slamming the brakes, putting the car in park, I hopped out and asked him, "What did you say?"
His face looked a bit startled and he said, "I said nothing." One of the girls in the group said, "I told you that would get a reaction!". I then asked the kid to read my license plate.
I asked him did he understand the nature of a Veteran license plate. When he said no I asked him to look at the back of my car. He said, "Same license plate".
"Kid killed in drive by shooting for shouting racial epitaphs."
Now, all things being considered, without meaning to do so he complimented me. Most people don't realize it when they deal with me but I am a black man with an annoying white skin condition. Some times so annoying that I want to scratch the damn itchy parts around me. Listening to such casual apathetic bigotry that I listen to on the regular up here in New England is ... mildly insulting.
However it is, for the most part, born of ignorance. Not mal intent, like some Southern States, just not knowing what is and is not okay to do. In fact, some bigotry my wife endures comes from fear of offending never realizing that offense must be intended to be offensive. Accidental offense is nothing more than an opportunity for sharing & learning.
So, today I saved some white kid in Somersworth Ghetto from his silly mouth. While I am proud of the accomplishment, the opportunity troubles me.
The kid has no marks from me. I took no notice of identifying features or marks. Of him or his companions. Only one thing in my memory bothers me. Since it is Thursday it is not likely that any of them where End 68 Hours of Hunger recipients however the generic non-descritive nature of all the back packs that where present makes me realize that I have spent more than just blood on these kids. I have spent time and sweat for the kids in this town and to have one so backhand compliment me with a racial epitaph that could be directed at my father, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, daughter, and wife.... I'm going to spend a lot of time in prayer this evening.
For guidance about the value of charity even towards the uncharitable by nature.
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