Acts of a Random Thought

"Modern Day Jim Crow"

By: Chasity Parker

Welcome to Reality Speaks. I am Chasity Parker and this is our new blog page where we will introduce various topics and open the floor for discussion. This may not be everyone's reality, but I'm sure there are many of us that can relate. Everyone let your voice be heard... The time is now that we Speak Up!

My first entry to Reality Speaks is addressed to all of my sisters, no matter what your racial make-up may be, or your social background. I hope you can relate to my reality.

Hey Family,

Are we (African Americans) racist in some form or another? Do we hang each other? I don’t know about you, but I have hanged a many a “Ni@@as” in my day. Not physically, but I have hanged them from burning trees with my evil glares. I have beat them black and blue with my locking car doors and clinching purse moves. Just like Jim Crow…what a shame…

The reason I ask that is because yesterday I had a collision with a man, white man. I wasn’t nervous or anything because I knew I was in the right, but when his (white) co-worker came outside and then the cop that showed up was white…I instantly started thinking, “Oh, my God. They are going to be against me and assume it was my fault”. All the while I was also thinking, “Thank God I didn’t hit some ghetto a$$ black chick with no insurance.” Sad to say, but I DID think that way.

Each time I had to tell someone that I had an accident in my circle of friends and family, I either immediately told them “I hit a white man” or they would automatically ask, “What color was he?” The color of his skin should not have mattered. The fact that neither of us was hurt should have been their concern. There was only one person who DIDN’T ask me that.

I talked to my hubby about all this last night. I have expressed to him several times that I don’t want to go to Broadway or Club Situation because I don’t want to be around so many Black folks. How horrible of a statement is that?? But it is true. I am “racist” to some extent to my OWN race. I hate that I feel like that.

I know I am not the only person who thinks this way. Some of you may scoff at the very words that I have written, but that is ok. At least I can admit to it and am willing to make some changes. I have used the N-word on more occasions than I can count. And I was NOT using it to greet my longtime friends. I was using it to “categorize” someone. Calling that person the N-word help me better tell about their personality, I guess. Ghetto, loud, ignorant and obnoxious is what I was explaining…this was so wrong. I too am guilty of seeing a couple of Black guys hanging around a corner and when I come to a stop light…I re-check to make sure my doors are locked. I am just as bad as the White people, but no one suspects it because I too am Black.

I straighten my hair, work with a great predominantly White company, have SEVERAL White friends and I eat cottage cheese. That doesn’t make me any less Black nor do I do this to MAKE myself less Black. It just makes me less inferior to them…but MORE inferior to my own people.

I want my People to stop letting the stereotypes be true. Pull up your pants, comb your hair, and lower your voice. Show yourself NOT them, that you are better than what they THINK of you. If I have formed a judgment of my own skin color, I can see why they have too. Barack can not be the only one to show our worth…we have to be ONE.

So, at some point in time, we have GOT to stop using the N-word as a compliment to a friend. We have GOT to think better of ourselves. WE have got to stop being our own worst enemy. We are the ones turning ourselves against one another…not them. Stop hanging yourself and each other.

I vow today to change my opinion of my own. I vow today to change my opinion of me. I am not doing this to show THEM, but to better ME.