Found a curious link from a blog that is new to me, called KimChi Kids. Here the author recalls a day at the museum, in which she got treated to the ongoing and nerve-wrackingly subtle racism that definitely takes its toll on people; no wonder many Black folks almost pine for the "old days" when it was at least clear. But then again, most people actually think about what the "old days" actually meant and quickly break out of that reverie. An excerpt, regarding being condescended to by an old, white biddie at the science museum,:
When I tell this story to someone, say a coworker, I will witness a few eyerolls. Oh, for god's sake, give it up! It's not like they left a noose on your desk... oh, wait, even that's not such a big deal. Lighten up!
I wonder how they would feel if these itty-bitty not-so-subtle everyday racially motivated snubs came their way... every day... in front of their children... When they all add up, these incidents are not so mundane, not so subtle, not so 'not a big deal'...
So I am faced with a challenge. Do I pick a fight with every single person who chooses to be patronizing, be condescending, and pretend that I am invisible?
I like how that's articulated, and how she illustrates that it's most frustrating to have to deal with this in front of your kid all the time. And how do you prepare them to deal with the sad and pathetic people like the one described in her story?
Because, indeed, a noose on the desk is almost easy – there are bad people in this world and they dislike you because of your skin color – OK, not so bad. But it's the little subtle things that build up and work to convince you that you are what they think you are. That's the subtle kind of racism that one really has to work hard to keep out of your head.
In a comment to that blog post, Cat makes a really good point about people in America perhaps not standing up to their non-racist commitments in all situations:
It's interesting that over here in the expats in Korea blogosphere, we have been discussing this incident, with a lot of people surprised that no one intervened on the blogger's behalf. I wonder how many of the white expats here who are upset when they are treated badly have, when they are back home, listened to someone tell a racist joke, or make catcalls at someone, and be embarrassed but without doing anything.
Well said.
