Reply #225: Are there any Black people participating in this thread?

[Isome]

Here's an opinion from one who also happens to live in North Florida, and spent 10 years in South Florida (Miami).

Confederate flag sightings are a daily occurrence. It's not only maddening, it stirs up homicidal feelings. When I have to stop at a traffic light and look over and see that damn flag out in front of an abandoned gym, or pull into the Santa Rosa Mall parking lot and see an oversized (extended cab) Dodge Ram with a flag pole mounted in the truck bed, flying the loser rebel flag, I want to join some secret sect of violent Black revolutionaries and prepare to fight to the death. Was that hyperbole just then? Just a teeny bit.

Are there nice people here? Certainly there are, while they're in your face. How do I know that? Because when the subject of any other ethnicity, e.g. Asians, Latins, is broached, they vomit up vile and insulting stereotypes, imitations of a presumed accent, "jokes" and opinions about culture. I'm wise enough (through virtue of my own ethnicity) to know that if they say those things in front of me about another group, they'll say similar things about me in front of a different group.

Though it is 2003, they still ask ignorant ass questions about my hair, my skin color, or make fucked up assumptions about where I live, how I live, or how I came to be "so articulate." In fact, the consensus among my friends is they're intimidated, so they do that thing that too many white people do when speaking to Black people: they attempt to imitate a "Black" southern dialect. Evidently, in their minds that's the only way my kind can understand English (despite my not having a discernable accent, regional or otherwise, having been raised in many different states). Or, it could be they think I'll be able to see they're so very understanding of my kind since they speak the lingo.

Holding your head high, walking with purpose and dressing as though you have somewhere to go, will generate a lot of stares that can make even the most self-assured person a tad nervous. It also makes the townies think you're not a permanent resident of the area, but one of those from the "base" (military).

Even the nice ones display an infuriating paternalism that belies their claim of not being bigoted or prejudiced. They assume to know what music or food I like, and then express genuine surprise when my tastes in either category encompass far more than they thought, or exclude the things they expected. Regardless of their professed open-mindedness, they're just as guilty of prejudging me based solely on my skin color. If discussing a subject like politics, they again are suprised that in some instances I actually know more than they do and I'm not afraid to disagree, or to point out their fallacious thinking/conclusions.

In the workplace:

• After shattering one too many stereotypes, there are always the white people who either begin to shy away from you, or the ones who make it their life's mission to try to show you up in one way or another.
  
  
• If no more than two other Black people in the office (out of the over 200 employees there are 16 of African descent), invariably there are wide-eyed stares and a stream of questions about why we're together, and if there was a meeting called that they should know about. It never occurs to them that white people get together, in greater numbers, for breaks, birthday lunches, after work socializing, etc. on a regular basis and none of us thinks a special meeting, wherein we're the subject matter, has been called. But GAWWWWD forbid the Black people in the office are friendly with each other and get together without inviting them. Oh' goodness, we're segregating ourselves! *fuck that shit*

In Miami:

The atmosphere there is nothing like Central or Northern Florida. Is there racism? You betcha'. However, because of the huge influx of people from the Caribbean, Cuba, and Latin America, it has a far more international feel. The white people are fond of saying, "Will the last American to leave Miami please bring the flag." Many of them fled to Broward county (Ft. Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood) long ago.

When trying to find an apartment there in the early 90s, I was turned down at least three times by people I knew were lulled into a false sense of security by my voice on the phone, only to then be shocked to see my black face when I arrived to view the premises. They suddenly realized they had no vacancies. {Later the Miami Herald carried a report that showed two of those complexes were fined for practicing racial discrimination.)

In my youth (70s & 80s), I also spent time in Illinois and Pennsylvania (my parents were both born there). Was there racism there? You betcha'. According to both of my parental units, during their schools days they went to integrated schools. But as for socializing, there were areas and places (like movie theatres) where a Black person knew, without a doubt, that they were not to frequent. By the time I came along, my cousins who were raised there would advise my siblings & I where we would be welcome and where we would not be welcome.

While attending Myna Thompson Jr. High School (in IL) I had a white boyfriend. On the other hand, I was also given 2nd place in a speech contest because my piece was about an all American subject, as opposed to something about nappy hair and momma in the kitchen cooking greens. This was relayed to me first by my parents, and later by my white teacher, vice principal & principal, because it was obvious to them that I should have won. I'd accepted the prize at the time thinking only that I was only second best.

My parents reaction was to take me out to dinner and explain that this is the way of the world in which we live.

Yeah, there's racism everywhere, I could write a book about the more traumatizing incidents that happened. But, if you wore my skin for a week or two, you'd find arguments like the one in this thread just as useless as I do.

^{Note:
I started this reply over two hours ago, but I had to stop and go to the gym.}