Vigilance for Racial Slights

By W. F. Twyman, Jr.

[Note: Some of my readers may recall the black female passenger on Metrolink who could not imagine a black President of the United States because “they” wouldn’t let us.

Negative thoughts can imprison as well as physical bars. The following is further evidence of a limited mindset, a self-imposed “oppression.” This conversation occurred on November 12, 2006.]

Vigilance for Racial Slights

            Vigilance for racial slights informs black thought.

            Hypersensitivity made sense during the dark says of slavery and Jim Crow segregation. The wrong signal might result in physical harm or worse. And so parents taught their children to be every alert to the racial climate.

            Today, vigilance reminds me of a stuck channel on television.

            Within the past three weeks, I became reminded of this vigilance. First, you will recall that seatmate on the Metrolink train. She rejected the idea of blacks running for statewide office. As the conversation developed, I expressed a positive hope that our open conversation about race on a public train reflected progress. Many blacks are familiar with speaking in hushed tones about race in public spaces. I don’t do so. But I know from personal experience that some black people censor themselves about race talk in public places. Rather than agree with an obvious fact, my seatmate chose to focus on a perceived racial slight. A Persian chef on the train had been passing around food samples to other passengers. In fact, the chef has a good reputation for being quite generous. Now, the chef walked by while I was engrossed in conversation with the seatmate. I thought nothing of the chef passing us by. In fact, she was probably being polite since we were deep in conversation. But my seatmate called for the chef to come down to see us.    

            “Why did you pass us by and not offer us food?”

            Obviously, the seatmate assumed that the chef had disrespected us on racial grounds. I did not feel the disrespect. But the seatmate did. And it suggested that her thoughts are ever alert to racial slights. Such vigilance seems like a non-productive use of energy. Indeed, the chef seemed confused as to why she was being confronted by the seatmate.

            Yesterday, I took my boys to IHOP at the urging of my oldest son. I have no great affection for IHOP. We usually go to other places closer to home. I obliged, however, and so we had lunch at IHOP. We arrived, sat down, and looked over the menus. While waiting for the menus, the boys became impatient. My youngest said, “they probably haven’t come because we’re black.” Both my oldest son and I challenged M. “What basis do you have for that?” “The waitress probably forgot to serve us.” As it turned out, the waitress just forgot.

            I have never used race as an excuse for slow service in a restaurant. From where did M. get this thought? It didn’t come from me. Had it come from family? Friends? Church? Television? I do not know. Hyper vigilance for racial slights can cripple young minds, even in the most positive household.

            The Washington Post ran a recent story on the Survivor show. A lot of the black women who have become favorites are known for an angry, sister stance. Prejudice and racism are under every rock. These women are popular because they keep it real, they entertain white audiences. Unfortunately, youngsters view these shows too. What parent of a ten-year-old girl would want her children to take their cues from the Survivor show?

                        Vigilance to racial slights is a negative thought. And negative thoughts produce negative energy.