Any trip to trader Joe’s or whole foods is an immediate relinquishment of my standards on personal space and I don’t understand how white people (particularly old ones but young yuppies are no stranger to this behavior) don’t understand the concept of personal space, or the words “excuse me”, or the idea that people have shit they need to grab, maybe don’t stand right in the middle of the aisle talking, as if this place is empty??
I’m honestly baffled at how white people act in public cause I was taught to minimize my space and be courteous always; basic shit like don’t pass someone’s line of sight without saying excuse me, don’t get too close to someone without acknowledging them, don’t literally reach around someone’s body without saying EXCUSE ME, SORRY.
and y'all just here airing your ass out in the CENTER OF THE AisLE so I have to look like a douche yelling excuse me so I can grab my fucking organic spinach, Sharon.
Someone pointed out for me that a lot of the behavior that is taught to Black children as basic respect for others has roots in self-preservation and survival through American slavery and Jim Crow. Through that lens, it became much easier for me to understand how these messages missed *cough* certain *cough* people.
Honestly, this has been on my mind for a long time. Obviously it would be different for black and brown people (and different historical behaviors molded this idea in parents) but the idea that parents of color raise their kids to act very, very proper (above reproach proper) in public to protect them crosses my mind a lot and fuels a lot of my anger towards people that do feel they can be rude. I know personally that I reign my kids in in public more than I would like, and I do it because I want to be sure their behavior is always, always justifiable. I want to be sure there is no reason for a white person to at anytime say anything to them, judge them, or be rude to them. Its unfair but its what I’ve learned, and more, moving to a white majority city (from Phoenix which is not majority latino but a much higher ratio) has enforced these ideas. This is why their acting rude comes across to me as straight up entitlement, and I can’t stand it. I have no patience for it.
I always talk about this sorta stuff, no matter where in the world you are, as a black or brown person they will invade your space like you’re not even there. and alot of the time i think they just do it on purpose as a power play.
deadass this is why I’ve taken up saying EXCUSE ME, really loudly and suddenly and they get shook when they’re in my way or trying to reach around me
I fucking love it when they’re shook. Maybe this will be the time they learn some damn manners. Honestly I spend so much time and energy reducing myself to nothing in public so I’m not in anyone’s way, and here they are at full extension just because.
