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Hey, my fellow White America, are you listening? Are you LISTENING to your POC friends' stories about living while Black or Brown?? I am, and I'm sick of what I'm hearing. Granted, what I hear is rarely as horrific as a friend being murdered by the cops 1/
In fact, the stories I hear are usually seemingly innocuous. But what I've come to realize in recent years is these stories paint the picture of the subconscious racism in this country that gives oxygen to the Karens & Patties who feel it's ok 2/
to call the cops on POC for sleeping, jogging, birdwatching, etc. It gives oxygen to racists in vigilante clothing that gun down POC in the name of "good citizenship" and to LEOs who feel justified in terrorizing young Black men for rolling thru stop signs 3/
or outright murdering them.
Are you LISTENING to their stories? Cause I am, and I am sick to death of it all.
Recently, a friend told me about one of these seemingly innocuous encounters, and I just can't stop thinking about it.
He's well-educated. A professional. 4/
Are you LISTENING to their stories? Cause I am, and I am sick to death of it all.
Recently, a friend told me about one of these seemingly innocuous encounters, and I just can't stop thinking about it.
He's well-educated. A professional. 4/
Before the quarantine, he went to a conference for his company. His job allows him to work remotely, so he doesn't live where the company is headquartered. However, he video conferences regularly with his coworkers and his picture is on every email. Everyone in the company 5/
has their picture in their email. My friend is the ONLY African American in the company. There is ONE other minority. This is a very White company in middle America, so he stands out. And yet.....
So, he made a connecting flight to the conference & noticed a coworker. 6/
So, he made a connecting flight to the conference & noticed a coworker. 6/
He started to greet the coworker, but then hesitated. He said, "I'm not sure what made me do it, but I decided to let him see me first." He sat in his seat 1 row in front & opposite the coworker. Nothing the whole flight. But he thought, "Well, he was talking... 7/
to his seatmate. Maybe he didn't see me." My friend leaves the plane with his carry-on & goes to find the shuttle to the hotel. Same coworker is waiting for the shuttle. Still no greeting. They ride the same shuttle. Nothing. My friend stands behind the coworker to check in. 8/
Nothing. He walks over to the elevator where the coworker is standing. Nothing. The elevator opens & out steps another White coworker, one who also works remotely. Suddenly Coworker 1 is all smiles and "Hey! Good to see you! When did you get in?"
My friend is standing 9/
My friend is standing 9/
RIGHT THERE. Still nothing. The 2 coworkers decide to go for drinks & walk off. My friend goes up to his room. Later that night, when they all get together for dinner, both coworkers are all, "Hey man! How are you? Been here long?"
They never SAW him! He was within 15 ft. /10
They never SAW him! He was within 15 ft. /10
of coworker 1 for HOURS and within 6ft. of the other and they never SAW him.
That is to say, they never saw HIM. ALL they saw was a Black man. Nevermind they'd been looking at his face at work for over a year!
We need to do more than LISTEN. We need to SEE!!!
That is to say, they never saw HIM. ALL they saw was a Black man. Nevermind they'd been looking at his face at work for over a year!
We need to do more than LISTEN. We need to SEE!!!
