A True Story by Lisa Sanders

I didn’t think it would happen to me, but it did. I was called the n-word… yes, a nigger. Yes, indeed, and twice in one day no less. The first time I noticed that someone left a not so pleasant message as a comment on my Xanga page. The second time however, was while I was standing in line at Wendys. Needless to say by that point I was more than ready to give Mr. Racist what was coming to him. How dare he call me out of my name? I refuse to be looked down upon and mistreated because of the color of my skin. He was no better than me, and what really made the incident so infuriating, is the fact that Mr. Racist was walking around in a Phat Farm sweatshirt no less. Are you kidding me?! As I stood there with my mouth open ready to “exhale” all over this man, I had to stop. Is my ranting and raving really going to make a difference I wondered? Is this man so set in his beliefs that my yelling and screaming will only solidify what preconceived notions that he has in his mind about the females of my race? I decided to take what I thought was the high road and calmly yet firmly explain to this man that his comment really was not necessary and actually quite rude. I also informed him that had he made that comment to someone other than me, he might not have gotten off so easy.

It really made me stop and think. Did I do the right thing? How is that we’ve come so far from the days of slavery and segregation yet we have so far to go? What are we as a society as a whole doing wrong? What is the solution I wonder? Most people will preach education. Teach racists that we are all created equal. Teach them that we are all made of the same sustenance. Others teach tolerance. Well these messages of tolerance and education have been going on for some time now and I don’t see the situation getting any better. The only thing that I’ve noticed is a resurgence of closet racists. People who know that they are racist or harbor racist beliefs but are smart enough to know that they just can’t walk around spewing whatever racist comments that they have in their heads. Even these so called closet racists are getting bolder and bolder by the minute.

So I ask you, readers, what is the solution? Will we ever really be rid of racism? How can we as a society move forward when others are continuously trying to hold us back? Someone please let me know. Until then, I urge you to continue to live life to the fullest in the fishbowl we call life. Knowing all the while that there is someone out there hoping and waiting for you to act like a nigger, just so he can feel justified in calling you one.

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