I went with my wife for a walk along the lakefront houses, on a dead end.Every car that went past had a driver that smiled and waved. I was thinking if I were a young black man I would had a different experience.
I can thank the dope for those thoughts. I also never thought about how much I got away with because I am white.
Got off with a warning, ticketed but not searched, and only charged with a single violation when I had committed several.
I live in a city that was a sundown town. I remember an old man at work saying how they used to stop “the negroes” at the train station to see if they were in town for a job.
My first house had a deed restriction that said the house could not be sold to a negro.
My high school had one black student.
So thanks again for making me think about race and how life treats you due to ones appearance.
It’s good to think about. The next step is to consider what you can do to alter your own behavior/response, etc. so that a black person in your town would feel comfortable asking you questions such as directions, what’s the best hardware store, where’s a good place to eat, etc. Would you be willing to go with them to the store or dine with them in your town?
No I’m not asking you to pretend a friendship that it takes time to build, just treat them like a white person you don’t know in your town. Just keep studying on the subject.
I didn’t used to think I had prejudices, but of course I do. Mine are not so much about skin color, but I wince at all the differences we have from other folks educated/not, multicultural background/not, religion/not or other, political, regional, age; the list does not stop. My goal is to work on removing expectations and just try to see people for who they are. It’s a huge challenge, but I’m going to keep trying.
I am lucky in that I have two daughters who live in Milwaukee.l get to meet their friends and co workers that are much more diverse than the people I was friends with in my twenties.