Race – Kat's Eye View

When I saw this meme, it completely threw me off. I read what it said and looked at the name of the person that re-posted it. I was stunned. I didn’t think this person, this former co-worker…, this eclectic person that I thought was open minded to differences felt this way. How did I miss this? How could she feel this way? She’s much older than me, but she seemed to have an understanding about current injustices towards mankind and not just towards animals and the environment.

What maybe hurts the most is my naivety. I have a tendency to assume the best in people…. The entire issue of kneeling for the pledge was never to disrespect OUR country’s flag. Why must this statement stay on repeat? Colin Kaepernick and many others were trying to bring attention to how those sworn to Protect and Serve seemed to be “out to get us”. By Us I mean African Americans, black people, black folks. Police lives do matter, but don’t forget that black people’s lives matter too. Who do we call to protect us, if those that are sworn to protect and serve won’t protect us? Please don’t try me with that black on black crime because obviously every race commits murder or other crimes amongst their race because that’s who they live around. Certain groups of people are shown more negatively on the news, unless they’re shuckin’ and jivin’ for the masses as entertainers musically or in sports.

It’s like black people aren’t allowed to speak out and express their dislike or disdain for issues. We’re supposed to just go on with problems and be satisfied that we are “free”. The Devil is a Lie! That slavery mentality will not stand anymore! We will speak out when injustices are seen! Are things better for us than they were 100 years ago or even 60 years ago, yes. Are we Hanging from every tree at a PicNic? No, things are better, but they still aren’t where they should be. No matter where darker skinned or black people are in the world, it seems we have to put up with more hatred. What more do we want? To be able to speak out…to be able to feel equal and believe the equality is true…to be able to live freely and carefree and not feel the need to call a loved one when we get pulled over. To feel the need to not have to put our phone on speaker phone so that we can notify our loved ones about what’s going on when stopped by a police officer. To not have to teach our sons and daughters survival skills so that an officer doesn’t fear for their life. To not have to dry through a town and read bumper stickers that say “If you don’t like it down here, go back to the North” while they proudly have the confederate flag waving alongside the American Flag on the back of their trucks.

Again, we will not sit idly by while our people are being killed and bullied being who we are. We will not sit idly by and continue to watch our people be handled like wild animals. Excuse me, like cattle. Animals of the wild are given more compassion. We’re killed for selling water because someone unnecessarily feared for their life. When Naked Nathan can shoot and kill his family and attack police and civilians, there must be a mental reason, because NO ONE feared for their life and and Naked Nathan wan’t shot up like 26 times. We live in a world where fabric is chosen over a person?

When will it be appropriate for black people to voice our concerns that we see broadcast on the news? People are tired of turning the other cheek because there are no more cheeks to be turned. This protest was a choice to act and speak up with the use of violence, although violence had been used on us. This kneeling is in protest and in prayer for OUR country to be better. How can you not understand this? I feel like I am pleading for this to understood. No matter your political or religious beliefs, wrong is wrong and right is right. If you choose to remain Ignorant to the issues, I can only call you what you are. Because of your meme, now I’m right. No matter how much of a good person you are.

Thank you for reading Part II of The Meme below. Please read The Meme Below Part I: The Backstory

I would love to discuss these feelings I am sharing. Please comment, like, and subscribe.

It’s disappointing when you turn on Facebook or Twitter or any type of Social Media communication forum and realize that someone you know doesn’t quite think the way that you thought they did. You, for whatever reason, believed that this person didn’t feed into the stereotype of their race or racial/ political affiliation. I try not to discuss politics or racial injustices in order to maintain ignorant bliss…and I guess to also ignore the fluorescent pink elephant sitting in the “room”.

At my last teaching job, I worked pretty much with all white woman. There was also 2 white men and 2 Hispanic teachers. The student population was reflected in the staff. Working pretty much with women is one thing, but to work with those that look nothing like you can be a lot to handle. This is for anyone no matter the race. Working with people that are different than you can be challenging.

The time I was at this school, I unknowingly felt the need to do everything perfect. After recently reflecting on this time, I realized that I felt the weight of perfection that many African Americans deal with situations like this. What I mean is, many African Americans, realize that in order for them to be seen as “equal”, we have to perform at the same level and often times better than our white counterparts. We have to watch what we say, watch how we dress, and watch how we do our hair, so as not to appear “threatening or intimidating”. We have to be bubbly, very friendly, and sociable, so as not to fall under the category of being the Angry Black Person. Even if we aren’t in the mood. We may not be in a bad mood, but again to not appear “threatening or intimidating”, we must change so no one is uncomfortable. We must watch our tone when speaking and our body language so that we aren’t the “eye-rolling” stereotype that is known as the “sassy” black woman. Some parents struggled with my personality and I was later informed that a few parents discussed with each other how I wouldn’t last long at the school.

The times I would discuss with my superior about any parent issues possibly being about race, was ALWAYS shot down. Race could NEVER be why a parent was complaining to the principal instead of to me. No matter how the parent always “misunderstood” my way of communicating because I sounded too “strong” in the way I spoke. I wasn’t trying to “play the race card”, even though this card stays in the deck, but I didn’t want to throw it out either. My blackness was new to these parents. Everything about me, my hair, my jewelry, my way of speaking to their children was new for everyone. I never disrespected any of them or made them feel unimportant, but I didn’t talk to them like they were babies or still in Kindergarten either. So my “strong” voice didn’t help matters. I had entered a bubble which didn’t include very many me’s.

I didn’t care that 98% of my students didn’t look like me. I believed that maybe I was their teacher, so that they and their parents could see that the stereotype of black people shown in media was not how ALL black people were. While I quietly fought these issues in my head, I still often wondered if anything about my race could be an issue for some of the teachers I smiled and conversed with daily.

Though many were friendly and open-minded with me while at work, Facebook Statuses reveal hidden thoughts, conversations, and viewpoints. The whispers spoken when I wasn’t around. The home discussions of how you truly feel regarding information from the news. The meme below showed those inner thoughts.

Please Read The Meme Below Part II: Where I Stand

Please Comment and tell me how you handle racial discussions at work?

Have you ever had to be “extra careful” at work because of who you are?

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