From the moment you're born, chosen to win the race of life if you know what I mean—you meet the world in your mother's and father's hands. Two outcomes are possible: you will either be loved or not. It’s as simple as that. Even before your birth, you might have been the joy of your mother's heart, even if your father wanted nothing to do with you. If only babies had a choice, but we don't, so we move on.
Being human is complex, but what gets to me the most is just being yourself. I learned early in life that appearance influences how you're treated. As a child, I questioned things, much like our school books. The truth is, history taught in schools can be so dull, hearing about the same figures repeatedly. I had to learn on my own that people of my skin color also played significant roles in history. Even in high school, if I wanted to learn about diverse histories, I had to choose them as electives.
I recall walking into stores in my own community, only to be stared at and scrutinized, even while spending my hard-earned money. Some store owners were downright rude, yet they knew that customers like me supported their lifestyle. I often wonder if some companies—some large ones, too will ever treat people of color equally without the threat of losing our business. Only when we withdraw our support do we hear their apologies and invitations to return.
Consider the small business owners who once treated us poorly; they either changed their ways or shut down. Do companies realize that when we come together, we stick together? Most people think they know people of color, but they often have it wrong. We are some of the hardest-working people you’ll ever meet, always lending a hand. We run our businesses—and often theirs too. Our children are well-mannered, yet the news often highlights the bad apples, painting people of color in a certain light.
When was the last time you heard warnings about traveling through our communities after a certain time of night? Yet, we deal with "sundown towns" and other injustices, where certain groups are allowed free rein while movements like Black Lives Matter are scrutinized.
My rant comes down to this: I hope one day we will have the same rights as others. Until then, we will mind our own business.
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