I took a long drive with my next door neighbor this morning, an African American woman in her 60s. She told me that we (meaning white people) may not see what is going on, but POC do. She said the way she and her friends have been treated since Trump took office is like it was in the 50s. When they had to use separate drinking fountains. She said white people are treating her as though she's a different species again. This is what #MAGA was all about. 😞
@Armchaircouch That's so kind of you to do that! I, too, have been going out of my way to show strangers some warmth and treat them as they should be treated. I was happy that my 11 year old daughter was along for the ride with us. She needed to hear what it was like for POC before she was born. The lessons learned during this administration are going to stick, I tell you. Her generation won't forget.
@Aja That is good about your daughter, I did not learn perspective of others until I was much older. And that’s unfortunate.
With the whole acting kind of thing, I feel like I have just re-connected with people. Somehow I became disconnected kind of my whole life and this has woke me up, so to speak.
@Aja I hate that. I have been taking care to smile at all my brothers and sisters of color. To sit next to them in restaurants to make sure that no assholes can take those spots to harass them. The one time I have taken a bus in months I stuffed a jacket under my sweatshirt to look pregnant so this asshole wearing the rebel flag would give me his seat and leave the Middle Eastern looking woman he was sitting next to alone. I don't know what he had been saying to her under his breath, but she ->
@Aja -> was shaking when I sat down beside her. I took her hand and talked quietly to her, "We aren't all like him. You have every right to be here. I don't know what he said, but please don't believe him. I'll stay with you. I'll protect you." She never said a word, but just sort of sagged against me. My husband took up a protective position in the aisle on the other side of her and I just held her & rubbed her back & arm until she stopped shaking. She was so tiny. We offered to make sure ->
@Aja -> she got home OK, but she just motioned with her hands for us to stay on the bus. I don't know if she even spoke English. Or if it wasn't allowed for my husband to come with us to make sure she got home? One thing we did do is make sure that HUGE son of a bitch didn't get off when she did. He was taller than both of us, but not as wide as my husband (he's built like a brick) and I kept my hand in my bag like if I had to take it out a gun was coming with it. He sat his ass right back down.
@AvaSpeaksUp I'm so glad to hear that you were there to stop whatever that guy was doing. So many people would have just walked by (and probably did) but she got to see that people aren't all like that. We're all just specks floating around on this tiny rock in an ocean of rocks. If we're not looking out for each other, its all for naught.
@Aja I feel exactly the same way. I could not tell what he was saying, but I could see by his body language he was getting bigger/happier & bigger/happier and she was getting smaller & smaller. I just can't stand that. Bullies. Especially when they are already HUGE men to begin with. It's just shameful.
@Aja Yup exactly
I go out of my way (whereas I was previously shy) to be kind to people that I cross in my path, now.
I feel they could be being badly impacted by this administration and they could be on the verge of taking their life. I want them to know there are people out there that smile genuinely at them, hold doors for them. Act like a normal community member ffs
In my town, only recently, when I’d pass a Mexican on the sidewalk, they would have their head down, not normal.💔