Number three on the countdown was one of my most serious posts of the year, and the one I’m most proud of. I didn’t expect it to do as well as it did due to its political nature.
I became upset all over again after reading it. Stay righteously angry my friends, we’ve got to make this world better.
https://nananoyz5forme.com/2019/06/01/equality-rant/
The graphic above prompted me to go on a rant on Facebook yesterday. First, because I agree wholeheartedly with the author, but mostly because I’m sick and damned tired of the inequalities present in this country.
How will we ever measure the loss of the intellectual contributions of women and people of color over the course of history? Has anyone ever made an attempt to calculate the costs of misogyny, racism, and xenophobia?
The patriarchy, in all its glory, has not only managed to restrict the rights of those who are non-white and non-male, but in the process of doing so, managed to literally rob society of the potential residing in countless members of their non-privileged counterparts.
Certainly there have been outliers who’ve transcended race and gender to succeed in this predominantly white male-dominated society, but just imagine what we could be as a nation if everyone was valued. Just maybe we should begin looking at this issue from an economic position rather than a humanitarian one. After all, money is pretty much all some people care about.
Many years ago, when I was in my mid-20’s I dressed as Aunt Jemima for a Halloween party. I donned a red gingham dress and crisp white apron, tied a kerchief around my head and sallied forth for an evening of revelry.
Oh, and as much as I’d love to forget this part, I also painted my face and arms black. Yes, I went to a party wearing black face.
I had no idea what a horrible stereotype I was perpetuating. I didn’t know the history of white actors portraying black characters as lazy and bumbling. No one at the party found my costume offensive, but then again, they were all white, just like me. We didn’t know any better; although, we probably should have. Ignorance really was no excuse.
Fast forward a few years to a conversation with an African American colleague. Halloween was approaching and the school kids we taught were giggling on the playground about their planned costumes. I told my friend that I’d once dressed as Aunt Jemima, thinking she’d find it funny. She did not find it remotely funny. This wonderful woman who I admired so much quickly and firmly set me straight. If we hadn’t ended the interaction with a hug I’d have worried that our friendship was over.
I called her that night and thanked her for enlightening me. She said, “Now that you know better, make sure you do better.”
I’ve never forgotten that, and have done my level best since then to do better in all things. I don’t always succeed, I know. I was raised with many tired, racist tropes that I didn’t even recognize as such until they were brought to my attention.
When NBC talk show host, Megyn Kelly claimed on her morning show this week that she didn’t think wearing black face was racist, I thought, “Honey, you’re about to know better. Now, will you do better? We shall see.
Peace, people.
Do we get crankier as we get older, or could it be that we just do not care anymore what people think of us? Maybe that perceived crankiness is just a result of the wearing away of social constraints. Why am I even contemplating this?
I’ve been a fairly nice person most of my life, but I do have something of a temper. It’s something I try to work through, and I’ve gotten better at it through the years, but now as I approach my 62nd birthday I find that I’ve lost my ability to tolerate certain things.
Usually those things are large concepts, like racism and misogyny. I have zero tolerance for those who discriminate on the basis of race or gender, and I’ve been saddened to discover that some people I counted as friends over the years do both. I’ve gotten cranky with them, and in some cases they are no longer my friends.
Other times those things that make me cranky are little and local, like littering. One day last week I was behind a 40-something mother and her pre-teen son as they exited a convenience store in Tallahassee. Both of them had bought big gulp type sodas (huge cups) and were unwrapping their straws in the parking lot. I watched in horror as they tossed their straw wrappings on the ground.
Before they got into their car, I said, “Excuse me, I believe these belong here,” as I bent down and scooped up the wrappers, dramatically depositing them into a trash can that was literally two steps from them.
Now, the instant I said that I thought, “Oh crap, they’re both bigger than I am.” But I casually strolled to my car and drove away while they remained sitting in the parking lot. Who knows, maybe they learned something? Or maybe they took down my license plate and are plotting to take me down. But if they follow me to Doright Manor, I’ve got one thing to say, “Get off my lawn!”
Peace, people.
Surrendering to Love
By Leslie Noyes
Hate is thick out there
Marching through the city streets
Tearing us apart
Love is present, too
Quieter, yet pervasive
Calling for action
Now we have the choice
To which do we surrender?
I'll always choose love
Of course his racism affects, or will affect, all of us in some way. Only time will tell how deeply.
Stand up, speak up, don’t let the bullies win.
Dear Shop Owners,
On Saturday, November 12, as I wandered in and out of shops in Juliette, Georgia, I noticed confederate flags and merchandise featuring the flags available for purchase in several establishments. In a couple of shops I had amassed an armful of souvenirs, as reminders of the little town where Ruth and Idgy were brought to life in Fannie Flagg’s novel, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
As soon as I noticed the flags, symbols of the ugly racist history of our country, I returned the items to their proper places and left. I didn’t raise a fuss, but neither did I spend any money in these shops.
As protests go, it was a small one, but important to me. Maybe I didn’t get to come home with a Towanda t-shirt, but the spirit of Towanda was with me.
Sincerely,
Leslie Noyes
Fight racism however you can everywhere you go. It’s as important now as it ever has been.
Peace, people
Stand, don’t ask
Pledge allegiance,
There’s a good boy!
Otherwise, those
Flag toting
Patriots cry no joy.
Never mind that
Soldiers died for
Your consecrated right
To speak your mind
Wrapped up in the
Constitution, tight.
Unblinking, unthinking
Loyalty to words
Written by a racist
Sing them anyway,
“Oh say can you see”
That doubts persist?
Courage lies within
Your conscientious
Objection,
Yet some say
Your rights unworthy
Of protection.
Screw that,
Give ’em hell
Stick to your guns,
Wrap yourself in the
Words of our founders,
Amendment number one.
Once we shone like stars
sparkling with brilliance untold,
emanating joy
We knew no hatred,
no prejudice shrouded eyes
dimmed our radiance
God I promised then
hide it under a bushel?
no! I’ll let it shine
Praying for Eyebrowz 