This is a rant inspired by actual events from yesterday. I'm not really concerned about grammar or structure. I just wanted to get my feelings across.
Peace.
I am by no means saying that my ordeal was equivalent to that famous bus boycott I read about as a child.
But if I had been White the bus driver of the first bus would have let me off at my stop instead of making me wait a mile and a half later.
If I had been White the bus driver would not have ignored my pleas and protests to be let off the bus, either legally, or illegally while simultaneously continuing her illegal conversation with the other closet bigot in the front passenger seat, who was eyeballing me like I was a sci-fi sewer-monster sent to steal her shoes.
I am by no means saying that my experience was worthy of a 1950's style march to freedom in 95 degree heat.
But if I had been White I would not have had to backtrack a mile and a half as I marched to my transfer point, drenched in sweat and rage.
I am by no means putting myself on the level of the pioneers who broke colorlines and stereotypes
But if I had been white the stuffed suits who had the misfortune of sitting next to me on the second bus the ones who make their fear and loathing of me known through subtle gestures the ones who clutch and protect their pocketbooks and genitals as if I'm just a sneeze away from a one-man white guy robbing, white girl raping spree.. they would not be experiencing the longest busride of their lives today.
I tolerate unfounded fear of a black man daily normally I attempt to diffuse tension reminding folks that I'm just a man who happens to be black
it's a piece of cake I've done it for so long that it's second nature to me (poor things, they don't know)
Fuck Dat Not today I think a small measure of revenge is in order I got Tupac on blast in my headphones glaring like I'm daring anyone to voice disapproval I got the stereotypical "Fuck the world" scowl on my grill as I stare directly into eyeballs, wallets, purses tits and asses like I'm fresh from a ten year stretch upstate
I stifle a chuckle when thinking of the irony that he, a man who is afraid of bugs and bad manners has an entire bus section shifting uncomfortably, averting their eyes in fear
I am by no means, a racist or separatist some of my best friends are White and I know better than to take such morbid pleasure in intimidating strangers
But if I were White I'd be home by now.
"To be a poet is a condition, not a profession." - Robert Frost
2. "RE: If I had been White..." In response to Reply # 0
i can see where the anger is and also see the disgust yo, its been to damn long and shit still aint right, sorry for ya pain, cat didnt deserve it, still plenty off ignorance floating around, i hope it doesnt affect your way of thinkin, peace.
"I've got seven kids. The three words you hear most around my house are 'hello,' 'goodbye,' and 'I'm pregnant'" -yours truly
'You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."- yours truly
Real Heavy, i feel so sorry that you black brothers go through the things you do. I wish i could change the hands of time to when we as a people were considered more then porch monkeys, savages and a threat to society. But keep your head up because the envy isn't because of one's color it's because of the power we hold, it's ancient. Keep shining!
Know Thyself and surroundings to better understand things non-existing and existing, unseen and the seen in order to be able to deal Equality(Equally with all things in life)...Be True to U!
7. "RE: If I had been White..." In response to Reply # 0 Sun Jul-20-03 04:51 PM
dayum. This needs to be upped. Dammit, it needs to be archived. I loved it. Visceral, gritty, yet beautifully written. You totally put me there on that bus, and man, did you make me want to get the fuck off of it. And yea, the ending gives it a nice chuckle factor.
this is raw, uncut emotion... i feel it all the way ova hurr. them busdrivers can be annoying, i 'member one time white dood tried flaggin down the bus. the driver (white woman) stops, opens the door, and says, "i can't let you on cuz this isn't a bus-stop." she then closed the door and kept driving. i mean, i can't say i wasn't LMAO along with all the other passengers, but that was some cold ish