GENEROUS: I Blame Brangelina

GENEROUS

I Blame Brangelina

I once had a friend who really went out of her way to be nice to me. I mean, treating me to lunch (even when I wasn't broke) and giving me money for helping her when she was ill (I'm a friend ... not a maid, DAMMIT). For a long time, I figured it to be a Southern hospitality thing, then I began to put the pieces together. She once stressed that she wanted for me to hang with some "friends" of hers but I may not be welcome because I'm darker than a paper bag. OK. Then she once went on about how she hated some members of her immediate family because of their extremely prejudiced ways. Now we're getting somewhere.

Well, I say if white guilt is what can build the Black and Brown communities, I say so be it. Why? I know that racism is a part of the darker-hued community. I don't need angry rap songs or half-assed written TV shows to remind me of this. I don't condone racism or sexism yet am a firm believer that the only way that women and other minorities can move forward is to be aware of the past. Yes, we Latinos, women, Blacks, Jews, Native Americans were all at one time mistreated (sometimes by our because they had more $). Why do an injustice to a community by going on Maury and for the umpteenth freaking time to not know 'who yo' babydaddy is'. Why should it be a miracle to anyone that I grew up in the 'hood and I speak English the way it is to be spoken? Why is it that when a successful, hetero man of color marries one of his own, it is miracle?

And here comes a random White person to turn some Brown kids' life around.

I once had a boss put an interesting spin on the "mixed" thing, "Purebred dogs may be pretty and win awards but they are weak and don't live as long. Mutts live a long time with little illness and have friendlier dispositions. Not to say humans are dogs but we can learn something from them about being a intermixed community that can be stronger." Hmm.

Well, I personally love and hate everyone equally, except maybe smart people. I'm a little more lenient when they have an attitude because maybe they had a nerd flashback or their head was about to explode from taking in so much information, IDK.

Anyway, Lisa Jeffcoat, wherever you are, know that you are missed and thank you for being a friend.