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I never do this but... extremely long thread:
I've been told I've never been judged by my skin color. Ignoring the fact that this statement itself, is a judgement because of my skin color, it's just not true.
I used to work by (and take the red-line to) 87th and Cottage Grove(1)
I've been told I've never been judged by my skin color. Ignoring the fact that this statement itself, is a judgement because of my skin color, it's just not true.
I used to work by (and take the red-line to) 87th and Cottage Grove(1)
the South Side of Chicago. Not for super long (3-months), but enough to experience threats of death because I was white, to consistently be called a "cracker," and was also called a "slave driver" once or twice. All I wanted to do was learn how to be a good manager, and (2)
while I had a good teacher and colleagues, some folks (not the majority) from the surrounding area ensured to let me know I was not welcome. My colleagues often poked fun at the fact I was white. I DID TOO! It was blatantly obvious I was often the only person that looked like (3)
me in a room. The situation was funny, and we often laughed about it together. I understand not everybody would be comfortable in this situation, or if it was reversed, and that's totally fine. But I WAS. I loved the people I worked with, and by the end of my time there, they (4)
liked me, too. Skin color wasn't important to them when it came to my character. It wasn't important to me either.
My point isn't "woe-is-me," and I experienced poor treatment every day, because I didn't. It's not that "I've been through it, so somebody else with a different (5)
My point isn't "woe-is-me," and I experienced poor treatment every day, because I didn't. It's not that "I've been through it, so somebody else with a different (5)
skin color should toughen up," because that's stupid. My point is, nobody of any color, should generalize a person of ANY race. We all have unique experiences, because we're a unique and diverse society. I've gained unique perspective and contemplation from this experience. It(6)
HELPED me better understand discrimination, and how it feels. It feels terrible, no matter who experiences it. But don't discredit somebody of these life-changing experiences, simply because of the color of their skin. (7)
Long post, and thanks for reading.
Long post, and thanks for reading.
