“America SUCKS,” “White
people SUCK!”, “YOU suck!”, “I’m gonna
make you my White Slave!” I was greeted
by these shouts directed at me while sitting in a parking lot across from a
school where I was waiting for my wife to get off work.
The insults became much more colorful in their language and
more directed at me. My first emotion
was anger but then I looked up and noticed they were five KIDS, two were about the
age of middle school and three were elementary school age. My anger turned to dumbfounded, and then to sympathy. As I stared at them insulting me, their
insults increased in intensity. I got
out of my car and the two older kids lunged at me (they were pretty small in
stature, so I was in no danger). I tried
to ask them why they felt this way. I
asked them if something happened to them to cause their anger. They just insulted me more and then ran off.
First of all, I am white and my family and I live in a
medium sized city in the middle of Iowa
where things are pretty conservative and I can safely say I have never
experienced anything like this. I cannot
pretend to know what it is like to be black in America . As a white person, I have never to my
knowledge felt diminished in any way because of my race. Being married to a Hispanic lady, I believe I
have seen racism in the most innocent way.
While shopping, I noticed the white store clerks would not take their
eyes off of my wife while she browsed through the racks of clothes and it made
my wife VERY uncomfortable. It made her
mad and after seeing it myself, made ME mad.
I believe I experienced in a
small dose the humiliation of racism.
When an experience such as this is done over and over again, I
understand a little more clearly the anger minorities experience in “white” America . Unless you experience it, you have no idea it
exists.
I have often wondered how black American’s feel when the
National Anthem is played or when patriotism is brought up. The history of America is very much white. The guys on Mount
Rushmore exemplify that.
Family’s came over mostly from white Europe
in a desire to better themselves and a want for a better life. They looked at America as a chance for freedom and
opportunity. They were happy to call America
home. I understand the immense pride
they have in this country and could proudly proclaim it to their ancestry in
other countries. Black Americans came
over mostly against their will and it must have been hard to stake a claim in
the American dream. Many do not know
their ancestry other than being pulled out of their home country. Have they ever felt that America was truly home? Can they get excited and feel patriotic about
our countries founders when they do not look as they do? It seems to me it would be hard to fully
embrace America
with the same historical passion as whites.
Years have passed and now we have had a two term black
president, we have more black CEO’s in business and superstar black
athletes. We also have many interracial marriages
and we are becoming a blended society. I
have heard the argument that blacks should be happy in this country. What is it that would cause the anger to
still be there?
The black football player who is sitting down during the
national anthem is causing quite a debate about being black in America ,
entitlement, police brutality, oppression and the like. I don’t know the answer to that. I get the people who are saying he is
disrespecting the county as well as the freedom he has to voice his opinion. If you had the chance to be either black or
white in America ,
which would you choose?
How should I react or feel for these youngsters who are
obviously frustrated. Should I show
anger, resentment, or compassion? Should
I feel bad about how they feel or should I just say “live with it”? My guess is we need more education and
understanding with a good dose of prayer.
All I know is going through all of this really SUCKS!
