A Look Within: Racism in America
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September 11, 2020
There are no words that can fully express how wrong and unjust the deep-rooted systemic racism is in this country. Racism is an issue I’ve always been aware of–especially being Latina myself–but in the past, I’ve always reserved my platforms for light, airy happiness. I looked at my blog as an escape from reality and while we do need that from time to time, we are in the middle of a revolution. For the first time in my life, it looks like we’re starting to see some change. It’s nowhere near enough, but progress is progress and it just means we keep fighting.
I want to share a story with you from my own personal experience with racism as a bystander. In 2018, I was on my way down to Florida for my yearly trip to visit my best friend’s family for my goddaughter’s birthday. We were boarding the plane in Atlanta and the woman in front of me (white, 60s) had 3 bags: her carry on, her personal item, and a crossbody bag. As we all know, you’re only allowed to have 2 bags with you when you board a plane. The gate agent (Black, 30s, female) politely reminded her to consolidate the two bags before boarding the plane. You’d think this white woman was just told she’s banned from Delta for life. She was PISSED. She could not believe someone had the audacity to remind her to follow the rules. As she huffed and puffed down the jetway, she continued to make remarks out loud about how appalled she was. Finally, when we got to the plane and a line began to pile up, this woman said out loud, “she was just trying to get back at me for slavery!” You read that right. This woman believed that because a gate agent was doing her job and politely asked her to consolidate her carry-on bags, that she was trying to get revenge on white people????? I was in shock. Completely at a loss for words. All I could do was give her the nastiest look I could possibly contort on my face. And it still haunts me to this day. I will never forget that horrible racist interaction and the fact that I didn’t speak up. I didn’t call her out on her disgusting behavior. And by not saying anything, I was condoning it. Ever since that moment, I’ve had my replies ready. I will not be shocked into silence ever again.
My hope is that this story will help you see that not only is racism a part of our past–our country’s foundation was built on racism after all–but it’s still very much alive and well today. Racism exists in so many forms, from blatant murder and police brutality, to modern-day slavery in the prison system, to hateful comments, and ignorant jokes. Being silent encourages this racism to continue every day. The only way to see change is to be the change. If I were to witness that same racist comment today, I’d ask that woman why she thought that someone doing their job was an act of revenge on her. I’d point out that following a simple safety rule is no comparison to hundreds of years of torture, murder, rape, and forced enslavement. I’d so adamantly express my disapproval and disappointment in a grown woman uttering those words that it would be her who couldn’t forget the encounter instead of me.
I was a part of the problem that day and it’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. But I can say that I learned from that experience and grew as a person. I learned that words have power. I learned that it is always my place to speak up. And I learned that it’s important for all of us to recognize our mistakes and be honest with ourselves about our contribution to racism in our society. No one’s perfect. This is something we all need to work on continuously every single day.
Take a look at your inner circle. Are you friends with people of all races and nationalities? Having a diverse group of friends can open your eyes to the experiences of real people that you care about. What kind of shows do you watch? Are any of your favorites comprised of casts that include Black people? What about the books you read? Are there any Black authors in your collection or books with Black main characters? These mediums can help you see the world from someone else’s perspective. The first step is to look within at your own bias and surround yourself with diversity. Admit your faults and work to fix them.
As we all know, my usual content centers around travel. I’ve always been open about my favorite part of traveling: experiencing the different cultures and meeting people from all over the globe. I’m beginning to realize that without that need being fulfilled, I’ve been left feeling incomplete. I’ve decided that for me, the best way to replace travel is advocacy. Travel was always a way for me to experience something meaningful and bigger than me and I believe that’s something advocacy can do. So from now on, while I will continue to be a resource for all things travel, I will also be speaking up more about the things I believe in. (Up next: some resources for race education and organizations you can donate to. In the meantime, check out my Instagram highlights!) I’ll also be more selective about the brands I support, though that is something I have always prided myself in. And I’ll work to make a difference here at home instead of simply being embarrassed to say I’m American when traveling abroad. I hope you’ll do the same.
When was a time you experienced racism in America?
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Photos by Ryan Carpenter.
June 10, 2020 @ 3:09 pm
my girllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll! This is why i love you so much ……………..Oh dear god so many experiences that I turned a blind eye to…..looking back its crazy to think….why didnt I say anything……but no more!
I will say that my husband ate lunch one day with a supposed “reformed” member of the KKK who served as a grand dragon. Scary AF……….Im not sure if I 100% believe someone like that can be reformed ….I just dont know. I asked him if he was nervous because you know ALberto Is Puerto Rican and KKK doesnt like anyone…….he said the guy was very nice and in his 90s alone so there was no risk of him doing anything and he said he was truly ashamed of the things he had done years earlier….who knows if thats true.
I do know lately like we talked about….there has been a huge purge in people i talk to on social media because I can’t support their BS
June 12, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
We live in such hard times at the moment! No person should be judged solely on their heritage or skin tone. So sad!
June 16, 2020 @ 6:48 am
Unfortunately this has been a problem for centuries all over the world! We all need to do our research and self-reflection in order to really understand just how deep these issues go. Racism is so built into our country (and our world in many cases) that we need to actively work to become anti-racist.
June 12, 2020 @ 9:49 pm
Wow, my jaw dropped when I read what that woman said.
I completely agree that it’s important for us all to look at ourselves and see how we have or may still be contributing to racism.
Thanks for sharing this!
June 16, 2020 @ 6:46 am
Isn’t it horrific?! It obviously made such an impact on me. I will never be shocked into silence again, that’s for sure! It’s incredibly important to understand that there is so much covert racism that we are basically born into in this country. Truly working to dismantle systemic racism takes dedication, self-reflection, and a lot of education!
June 15, 2020 @ 1:42 pm
wow, such an eye-opening read. thank you so much for this post!
kileen
cute & little
June 16, 2020 @ 6:43 am
Of course! We all need to confront racism head on – now more than ever – if we want to incite change. Calling out people in the moment is so important. Education is key right now. Teaching people WHY what they’re saying is wrong is our best bet. Zero tolerance policy for hate!
June 15, 2020 @ 4:25 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I’ve seen racist interactions and I’ve also been either shocked into silence or if I did speak up, was promptly told “not to make it about race.” We all need to speak up when we see acts of racism, microagressions or macroagressions.
June 16, 2020 @ 6:40 am
You’re absolutely right! I was completely shocked into silence. It was horrifying! It most definitely will never happen again though, that’s for sure. And yes – we ALL need to speak up. It’s so important!
March 22, 2022 @ 8:48 am
Indeed totally right! I was totally stunned into quietness. It was sickening! It undoubtedly won’t ever occur from this point onward however, that is without a doubt. Also, yes – we as a whole need to make some noise. It’s so significant!