Dear You
Dear You,
Yes, You. I know you know exactly who you are, because from what I’ve seen, you have no problem self-identifying. You who is tired of your social media timelines being flooded with the same old thing. You with the statistics to disprove what you’ve decided we’re all angry about. You with the black friend that qualifies you to share your unrequested opinion. You playing devil’s advocate and pushing for people to see “both” sides of things. You with your one experience that is contrary to ours that you just can’t wait to share. You reading this right now waiting for your opportunity to discredit the validity of this post. You.
Since you insist that people are holding a magnifying glass over a minute issue, I have a few questions I hope you can answer to help me better understand.
Have you ever been barred from entering your own home because someone else didn’t think you belonged there?
On a scale of 1-10, how scared are you when getting pulled over by the police? 1 being not scared at all and 10 being “this could potentially be my last day.”
What names do people call you when they’re upset? Karen? Becky?
How often do people ask to touch your hair and want to pet you like an animal?
Have you ever been praised for your ability to speak English?
When was the last time someone told you to go back to where you came from?
Tell me about a time when someone treated your mother like shit because her native tongue spoke words they couldn’t understand?
Have you ever missed out on job opportunities, not because you weren’t qualified, but because of your name?
How often are you the only one who looks like you in the room?
Can you share with me the scariest talk you’ve ever had to have with your children?
Have you ever been in a store that didn’t sell one single product you could use in your hair?
How often are you asked to speak on your entire ethnicity’s behalf?
Have you ever heard the doors lock when you approached a car that wasn’t your own?
When the stereotypes come out, what do they look like for you? Poorly seasoned food? Lack of rhythm? No style?
Have you ever called the police and been uncertain of their ability to identify you as the victim and not the suspect?
What “American” name do you use instead of the one you were given at birth?
How did you handle that time your boss told you the hair that grows naturally from your scalp was unfit for work? ...oh wait.
I’ll stop my questions there because I know that times like these are the busiest for you. The calls for equality and justice are way too loud, and far be it from me to keep you from your job as social justice librarian.
And, since you're fond of the facts, I’ll leave you with a few and then I’ll go.
The fact that this post is necessary.
The fact that you have so many social media posts to comment your “facts” under.
The fact that there’s another hashtag.
The fact that we’re still having the same talks about the “same old thing.”
All this, and somehow you still don’t see what we see.