The most violent element in society is ignorance!


Emma Goldman said that the most violent element in society is ignorance. She's right because I wanted to slap the hell out of that ignorant ass man tonight. His ignorance definately brought out the violent side of me! LOL! No but seriously most animosity is rooted in ignorance.

So tonight I was walking to the grocery store near our apartment and on my way this man turns to me and asks if I want a job cleaning houses? I was immediately stunned by this question. I'm working on my 3rd degree here and the audacity of this man to assume that because I am black, I must be a maid is offensive! I told him no and he then asks me if I am Ethiopian. Strike fucking 2 sir....not all black people are Ethiopians! I said no I'm from the Bahamas. He asks where is that is that in Africa? Umm no, it's in the Caribbean, where he then assumes I mean Columbia. At this point I am thinking to myself he's only making matters worse and further displaying his ignorance. I said no it's near Florida in the United States. He then assumes I'm American at this point I just give up.

He then asks am I working for a family? I live in a pretty nice part of Northern Tel Aviv, so I guess he assumes that because Black people don't really live around here the only possible reason for me being here is I must be a maid. I told him no I was going to University here. He then proceeds to ask me if I would teach him English. Are you fucking kidding me now?! Ok really where is Ashton Kutcher, I am being punked! I mean come on.... after you have thoroughly offended me you have the audacity to ask me to turn around and help you?! Ummm NO WAY! Hell NO! I said no and started to walk away.

He then asks me to take his number and when's my birthday because he wants to surprise me. At that point I just had to get the hell outta there. It was going from bad to worse. You knew enough English to offend me, then you ask me to teach you English, and then you hit on me?! Really this is a joke right?! That didn't just happen to me?! As I'm walking away he says I hope to hear from you. All I could think is I hope I never see you again or anyone like you that is ignorant enough to think that all Black people must me maids!

I'm still stunned by the sheer ignorance of the situation tonight. Some people are just absolutely ridiculous! There are racist and ignorant people everywhere. Lesson learned. However I try to be as tolerant as possible with everybody. I think part of the reason I didn't full on SPAZ on that man was one because I have manners, but 2 I partially thought of it as some sort of learning experience for him. My mom always used to say you have to show people, better than you can tell them. She said the same thing to me tonight when I called her to tell her what happened. I guess in standing with this man for longer than 2 seconds and not resorting to violence I was subconsciously hoping to do just that. I was trying to enlighten this man. No I am not Ethiopian and not all Black people are Ethiopian or African, where the Bahamas was and that I am an educated Black woman that aspires to be more than just another maid in someones house. I am more than what you think of my skin color. I speak proper English and I am proud of who I am and where I come from and though you may be an ignorant asshole that may not think much of me and people that look like me I can show you better than I can tell you. I will carry myself with dignity and grace and I will not dignify your insults and prejudices by acting like you. I will show restraint!

When you know better you do better. So hopefully I taught him a little something tonight and next time, just maybe, he'll think before opening his mouth to say some ignorant shit to someone else.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! Happy Mother's Day to my best friend Tiana, you're such a great mommy to Isabel. I am so proud of you! To all of my other friends that are moms, you guys are amazing, you guys are an inspiration seriously! Lindsey I love you, Happy 1st of many Mother's Day! Jack is a little miracle baby and every day I look at pictures of him and you together makes my heart smile! Happy Mother's Day to my sister in law, you're a great friend, a great big sister, a great mother and we'll forever be close because you've given me 2 of the most beautiful joys of my life. I hope you guys all have the best day! You deserve to be celebrated today and every day for all that you do as mothers. I'd also like to say Happy Mother's Day to 3 of the most important women in my life. Happy Mother's Day to my Grammy Wally, Happy Mother's Day to my Auntie Bridgette, and most importantly Happy Mother's Day to my Mummy, Marion! I love you guys s...
Read more

C'est la vie in Tel Aviv!

I decided to begin blogging after a friend of mine suggested it when I announced I'd be leaving Atlanta, GA after 9 years and move to Tel Aviv, Israel for grad school. This will be a way for my friends and family to see what I'm up to and keep in touch with me. For those that know me best I don't think they were surprised by my decision to move to Israel. I'm a pretty adventurous girl and I'm always up for taking the road less travelled. I consider my decision to move to Israel an act of divine intervention. For the past couple of years Israel has been at the top of my travel list, along with a few other countries in the Middle East. Also, I went back to school last summer after 4 years in public accounting. I decided that it was time for a career change. I wanted to work with children and I have lots of interest in psychology so I went back to complete my bachelors degree in psychology. I actually turned in my last assignment for the completion of my requirem...
Read more

Stress Kills!

Earlier this year one of my professors said something in class that has stuck with me ever since. She said that people usually find psychology because they are trying to understand themselves. We usually are trying to understand a problem that we've defined in our own lives rather than something that we specifically see or want to understand about others. This statement was an "Ah ha" moment for me, as Oprah would say. I really began to reflect on if this was true for me and it definitely was. My interest in psychology was very personal. I didn't grow up in what would be considered a normal family structure and growing up it led to some internal struggles for myself that I eventually had to learn to come to terms with and become aware of and face as best I could. I'm specifically interested in stress and anxiety disorders. I am really interested in the effects on children. Growing up I felt alone in trying to understand the areas of my childhood that I didn...
Read more