[AKA_Monet]

Soror Steeltrap--

I feel yah... And for the other issue, I'm gonna leave it alone because I'd put my foot in my mouth...

For everyone--

There is has been a dichotomy between Africans since the slave ships sailed... The differences between house negroes and the field negroes... This is all one in the same--times may have changed but the mentality--or the cultural asilis developing the utamaawazo's have not... These reactions all of us have experienced and are recalling is the product of what enslavement does to folks. Its effects are practically hardwired into the psyche of people and to be able to be "bi-dialectical" or "trans-racial" or whatever folks call themselves these days, is to be able to cross all boundaries...

The issue is as children... Children are mean sometimes. Especially when they do not understand differences. It is part of their developmental processes to make differences--to have discriminating tastes. If it is not developed, they have severe learning disabilities. It is engrained in the educational system... As educators, we have to understand that aspect of childhood development. Many folks on GC can tell you more than I could. But, I can tell you from my own experiences, if there were trained adults present to teach the children why it is wrong to make judgements on kids who speak differently from them, then many of these issues can be averted. However, kids will tease irregardless of what the issue is... In fact they find ways to tease...

And as sad as it is to say, many kids respond to their environment with harsh, hurtful statements because they are hurting themselves for whatever reason.

On that note, one ought to take pity on an individual that does not appreciate or respect your point of view. It is to be closed-minded. And to reach a spiritual enlightening or re-birth, one cannot be closed new experiences...

How do you explain that to children who come from what they cannot begin to conceptualize? Children from the hood cannot tell you about the beautiful "Aurora Borealis", etc. But they can explain to you what happens to folks who go into "lock down"...

We can choose to highly educated and that is fine. But where we get educated about life can occur worldwide... Just that some folks get educated on the street. And that street knowledge is useful so some purposes...

Believe me, folks ought not alienate those of a lesser god... You never know when you might need them... I was forced to learn that when I was very young and suffered plenty at the hands of "Jack and Jill'ers" because I did not act "bougie" enough... What was done to me by those folks hurt more than being called the "N" word from caucasians or the ghetto-fabulous...

So now, I traverse both paths... Like Rudyard Kipling... "I can walk with kings, but not lose the common touch..."