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This has to be one of the best discussions in a long time.
Just some thoughts-When I meet someone, of course I notice what race that person appears to be. After I know them, it is no longer a point of reference. So I don't think-"Oh, there's AF/AM Jennifer...I'm going to say hello."
The money in the hands...money is filthy, hands transmit germs. Some people have compromised health issues and avoid contact with other people. Avoiding hand to hand contact cuts down on your potential to catch a cold. It isn't necessarily a peak into masked racism.
(BTW-never take somebody's baby's hand in yours, because it goes straight to their mouth and can really tick off the Mom.)
IMHO-The greatest example of passive racism/prejudism is to treat someone as if they are invisible. Sometimes I, as a white person, have been treated as though I was invisible. The reasons change due to who I'm encountering. I have been invisible because-
I am a female
over 40
not a member of... No matter who you are or where you go, there will always be people who refuse to look beyond the packaging.
(Yet, I will NEVER know how it feels to anything other than what I am.)
When I moved here, I saw how offensive people could be to anyone outside their comfort zone. It became a mission to try and counter all the crudities I witnessed. Sometimes I felt like an ambassador for the white race. I would go out of my way to engage in conversation or make smile someone-especially the children-so the only image of a white person wasn't a negative one. Have you ever seen a child reflect their parents' attitude? That is a sobering vision. The thing is, what was once a "mission" is now a lifestyle and attitude that I HOPE emanates in my thoughts, words and deeds. HEY-Sounds like the Girl Scouts! Too bad I quit as a Brownie!
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