published: Friday, January 18, 2013

The soul of an abolitionist

Editor:

This story starts in our local Denny's restaurant around 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. There were only about four small groups in the place at the time I had this experience that I have to speak about to my community as a whole and directly to the young man and woman who sat next to me and my gal pal directly behind the cash register. This couple, I'd say were in their young 20s, as he proclaimed they were "white" and drove a white pickup truck.

As we were ordering our meals, this young man started to make remarks that he clearly wanted those of us in the restaurant to hear, as they were loud and boisterous and were filled with words I would call "racist and hate-filled" in nature. Of course, I instantly ingrained both his and her face into my memory because as my long life dealing with racism has taught me, you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But I regress a moment because I will say that I did not think this young man a racist "yet", simply an ignorant person who has yet to know and understand fully the world as it is and not as it's perceived through the prejudice mindset he had obviously been given in his young life. Because I know firsthand that the most dangerous racists of our world have intellect that far surpasses the every day person as this young man, as well as finance and devious intent. That's why I'm addressing this here in an open forum. I want my words to be seen, not only by this couple but by all who have this same mindset of perceived superiority of a race over another.

As we were ordering our meals, this young man started to make remarks that he clearly wanted those of us in the restaurant to hear, as they were loud and boisterous and were filled with words I would call "racist and hate-filled" in nature. Of course, I instantly ingrained both his and her face into my memory because as my long life dealing with racism has taught me, you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But I regress a moment because I will say that I did not think this young man a racist "yet", simply an ignorant person who has yet to know and understand fully the world as it is and not as it's perceived through the prejudice mindset he had obviously been given in his young life. Because I know firsthand that the most dangerous racists of our world have intellect that far surpasses the every day person as this young man, as well as finance and devious intent. That's why I'm addressing this here in an open forum. I want my words to be seen, not only by this couple but by all who have this same mindset of perceived superiority of a race over another.

Just because I did not say anything to you about your ignorance doesn't mean it's correct, a shared opinion or belief, it is not. I have no problem persecuting you in your ignorance as I have the soul of an abolitionist. I "over-stand" that the only way that you can feel strong is to make another be perceived as weak. But as I live in a world where we all have the liberty and right to speak our minds, regardless of what another thinks, I watched you practice that right as I might not agree with you, or your words but would fight, as myself and many within my life have, your right to speak them.

I want you to know that what you perceived as a room full of "white race" persons, were anything but. I am a mixture of what's known as the human race, my friend considers herself American Jewish, and your waitress, Native American Indian, and none of us consider ourselves of the "white" race as you do. We all considered ourselves of American heritage and race and were all offended and saddened by your comments, not for ourselves, but for you.

And if you desire to know the facts, the Census has a site online that can give you the true facts on the "race" of those whom use government assistance most. I think you will be surprised of the realities of this fact in our world today.

As for the female partner who accompanied the young man, I want to give a special message to her, those who spew hate outwardly need reaction and your constant requests for him to stop speaking in that manner only added to his flame and showed your embarrassment. When haters can no longer get sated by their actions without, they start to hate within and you are within his circle and I have no doubt will be a victim of his hate at some point if you do not run, not walk, away from this relationship.

I pray someone steps into this young man's life and sets him on a better path than I seen him on this night and that my words reach him and those around him that can make this change. Our freedoms, as we know them as Americans and a free people, depend on it.

Gingerlee Mitchelllindo