I can remember being out a couple of years ago with some friends and other associates. We were at a steak restaurant having dinner. One of my friends had a problem with her steak. I suggested that she tell the waitress so she could get her another steak. The waitress came over and she explained that she wanted her steak medium rare. The waitress apologized and took the steak back to the kitchen. I remember some of our friends staring at her like she had done something wrong. The waitress returned with another steak. This steak was pink all the way through. My friend said, "I can't eat this either. " I called the waitress back, and complained about this steak. The waitress roiled her and snatched the plate off the table. As she was walking away; I heard her say, "Black people is always trying not to pay their damn ticket!" The manager came over and I told him what she had said as she was walking off. He laughed as I was being funny, and said, "She is such a jokester!" I was very upset, and told him that I didn't see anything funny, and I wanted an apology from her, because I considered that a racist remark. The manager made her apologize, and I called their main headquarters and complained.
First of all, I didn't know what the word microaggressions were until I saw the video this week. I see that microaggressions comes in all types of ways. This week's lesson has taught me to think before you speak. They say words cant hurt, but microaggressions can. We should stop being prejudice, stop discriminating each other, and stereotyping one another. It is safe to ask, than assume. We all know that no one person is the same; we should embrace everyone.
its said that in the year 2000 anything we have to have instances like this. Its sadder when the comparative narrative is almost an unrealistic thought. She would have never done that to a white group. but let a Black water do it to a white group they would have been fired immediately. we have to have a dual consciousness when dealing with white folks for our survival sake...smn
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that we just don't think before we speak. I believe that we somehow thinks its righty to look down on other people.
DeleteHi, Guadalupe
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I have experience this situation many times and just as you stated, microaggression hurts. I was not familiar with the term before but after viewing the video and the experiences of the spokesperson, I became more knowledgeable. I still don't know what hurts the most- the spoken words or hidden intentions. Racism does not make for a pleasant environment either way.
I totally agree with you. People are always thinking the worse, because of the color of someone's skin. I was taught we all have the same color of blood, which is red! We live is a confused world.
DeleteI'm sorry that you had to go through that. I was talking to my husband and he said that yall as black women have a stigma against you all. Instead of being portrayed as Beautiful, strong women, you are characterized as having nasty attitudes. He made me think and so now I try to keep a smile on my face and not have so much of an attitude. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI believe as black women; we have to be strong, and be out spoken. We have the freedom to speak jus like anyone else does. Black women can intimidate a person easily. If you think about it; they are basis this on the color of our skin.
DeleteThank you for sharing your post. I do agree that as a woman of color we are expected to smarter, stronger and managers of the "game." What I mean by this is that we have been told for decades that our lips, hips and back sides were too big. Now, individuals are paying thousands of dollars to look like us. I find this quite ironic.
ReplyDeleteRinyka