Imagine you're sitting in Starbucks waiting for a friend. Just sitting there minding your own business.
You need to use the bathroom...
Ask anyone you know if they haven't been in some version of this scenario before.
Sorry, I should stipulate, ask anyone you know who is white.
Alright now imagine the same scenario, go ahead close your eyes and imagine the same scenario but in this one you're black...and then all hell breaks loose.
That's what happened to two men waiting for a friend in a Starbucks in Philadelphia.
How is this even possible?
Well, if your asking that question...you're probably white, like me.
Because according to multiple media sources and people I've talked to since this happened, this happens to black people a lot.
In the wake of this incident, all U.S. Starbucks 8000 stores will close on May 29th and they will be holding training and talking to employees about racism.
That's a good first step, but what's step number two?
Will one day of training change how people think?
This has to be an ongoing discussion and it can't just take place in black communities.
Let's be clear, white fear and white privilege are actual, real things that exist and are thriving in today's society
White people need to educate themselves about how other people are seen and treated as opposed to turning a blind eye or just ignoring the situation.
If they don't, they become complicit.
Imagine if everyone of every race could look at one another and see a person, not a color or religion or gender just another person...
just imagine!
Have a wonderful weekend...
Noodle and crew
I tried real hard to imagine that scenario Noodle, but I just can't imagine.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly everyone at that (disgusting coffee to us--we who drink Italian espresso in ITALY) organization is going through a required course on how to handle clients. As if that were needed!!!! What a world.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realised this had happened and am totally stunned by it all. A day isn't enough I guess, to teach humanity such a lesson, though it really doesn't and shouldn't need teaching, ever. Shame on those that belittle their fellow kind.
ReplyDeleteERin
Noodle thee Kat mee likess yur profile selfie; you look so thottfull.
ReplyDeleteAas fur thee dee-vision of white an black LadyMum told mee peepull freek out when they see her with her adopted Sisfur or Brofur who are both Black. Shee told mee many yeerss ago Aunty Stacey was here an sayin "Goodbye" an LadyMum an Sisfur kissed an hugged an all H*LL broked out at the buildin. They ignored thee racial slurss butt both were herted deeplee bye such racism.
LadyMum sayss shee iss 'color blind' an shee iss so happy to bee that way!
Ladymum wood defend efurryone to have thee rite to use thee washroom ree-gardless of color or style of dress....
**paw patsss** Siddhartha Henry =^,.^=
Hi Noodle, we think you mean complicit. One day of training isn't enough, but at least they recognize the need and are going to forego a day's profits to "try" to educate employees. When our dad was in law school, 40+ years ago, he worked at a restaurant in the same city where BlogPaws was just held. The restaurant refused to hire black waiters. African Americans could only work as bus boys until Dad organized all the white waiters, who protested, and the policy was changed. Mom says this battle for equality for ALL people will probably still be going on long after her death, and this saddens her. She does pray that some day she won't have to imagine...it will just be. Thanks for hopping. XOCK, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer
ReplyDeleteWell, Noodle, seems like some things never change...but we can only hope that they do.
ReplyDeleteThat was sad what happened at Starbucks.XO
ReplyDeletenoodle.....thatz whatz total lee amazin bout de animal kingdom.....we due KNOT judge on anything.. at any time... bout any other ....being....yet...we R suppozed lee...."dumb animalz "
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ♥♥♥
A world in which people see only other people, and not pre-judge them because of their colour, religion, or gender, would be a wonderful world, for sure, but we have a really long way to get there, I'm afraid. purrs
ReplyDeletePersonally, I've found it's hard to not become intolerant of those who are intolerant...which diminishes all of us.
ReplyDeleteIt's either their colour, their sex, their orientation. Always a stick to her people with outside the 'norm'. This issue wrong. There is so much to put right.
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