A memory I have of an incident that I experience prejudice was when I was younger working part-time as a cashier in a major department store. I was born and partly raised in Chicago Illinois, and moved to Tennessee when I was a teenager. Coming from Chicago I never remembering experiencing any type of prejudice or even hearing my family talks about experiencing any in or around 1980’s. When we moved to Tennessee it was so racially divided to and everywhere I turned there was talk about race. A memory I have of an incident that I experience prejudice was when I was younger working part-time as a cashier in a major department store. A white older male wanted to purchase items, I spoke like I always did to all of my customers and didn’t get a response so I asked did he find everything ok and he didn’t reply. I continue to smile all the time thinking to myself he’s not a friendly guy or he’s having a bad day. I told him how much his purchase was and he laid the money on the counter. I didn’t think anything of it so I got the money off the counter and went to give him his change and he asked me to lay it on the counter. So out of respect I did, so I then reach to give him his receipt and he asked me to lay it on the counter as well. So I continue to think to me…does he have a cold and don’t want to me to catch his germs! But then a white female cashier came to relieve me for lunch and he smiled and asked her how her day was. To make an even longer story short he left and the white cashier laughed and the explained to me that he is very prejudice and didn’t like black people. I felt very hurt and somewhat dirty, it’s a feeling I can’t really explain. This incident not only showed me that prejudice still was present but some people still thought that it was funny for someone to have feelings about another race/person and show it in a negative way. This experience has taught me to not question my identity or feel or thinking negatively about myself because of my race. This experience has taught me to never let anyone make me feel ashamed about my race because of their ignorance. This experience has taught me to continue to be kind to others and to treat others with respect regardless of their race.
Tawanda, I know how you felt. During the 80's there was a lot of racism happening everywhere. We had just segregated in our schools during this time. The white's did not like it, nor did the blacks. We had a lot of racial fights, and it was bad. I felt your pain in the man not wanting to touch your hand, it happen to me. But you know we have to overlook this type of behavior in people, I just feel that they do not know any better. You are so right be kind, and don't let these type of experiences take away from who you are. Thanks for sharing....Linda
ReplyDeleteTawanda,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you were hurt by the experience. It seems that it doesn't matter how much education we have on how ignorant these types of expressions are, they still manage to evoke emotions that we cannot control. I believe that is what Nadiyah Taylor experienced when the community group came to campus to spit out ugly things about those different from him. Keep fighting for a better world!
Annie P.