My Personal Experience in these United States as a Black Woman
As an African-American racism, discrimination and bigotry for me is a way of life. The sume total of my experience as an African-American College Educated, Christian US Army Veteran. Especially at my job. In the 8 years I’ve worked there I’ve been physically attacked by a white male employee (he got fired when he threatened to kill another white male staff person), propositioned and accused of being of either being a whore or a drug dealer by visitors to the museum and sometimes white male staff, propositioned by a white male supervisor who thank God retired a couple of years ago (he was protected), there was another while male guard who threatened to kill all the Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims at work (he finally was fired this year) and yesterday a white male supervisor who told another employee that all Blacks who wear their hair loced must be on drugs. I wore my hair loced for several years and at No time have I even been on or taken any illegal drugs nor am I a drug dealer. However because of my skin color I have already been judged, tried and convicted.
Since we will have a Republican President, Congress, Senate and Supreme Court there will be no where for People of Color or Non-Christians to turn to when we are attacked. Yes it is going to be a long 4 to 8 years because this nutcase might very well be re-elected.
Donald Trump Says He’ll Deport 2-3 Million People Once In Office In his first prolonged interview since winning the White House, President-elect Donald Trump promises to keep his campaign pledges on immigration. Read more on NPR
The victory of Donald Trump has left us trying to make sense of the senseless, hurt, feeling scared and angry….. trying to decide what to do or if it still makes any sense to do anything at all. Many feel fundamentally betrayed but pointing fingers offers little relief or clarity. I honestly don’t think even Donald Trump thought he would win and was more focused on the drama of how he would react to a loss than anything. Yet with all that he will soon be our president.
I, like many of you, did not think he could win. He seemed so manifestly unqualified…. too unstable, of questionable values and integrity, lacking knowledge, skills and expertise. He was not simply a bad candidate, but a dangerous candidate. A lot of people thought and still think he will destroy this country.
Well after this week’s USA nation-wide election drama it is time to focus back in my own personal health drama. My Gastro Doctor put me on a low-fiber diet. I do notice a difference. Certain vegetables, legumes and wheat do seem to set my stomach off in the wrong direction. I still have not picked up the solution and tummy meds from Walgreens mainly because when I went on Monday they did not have them.
By the time the medicine and solution came in I had to go to work. There is no way I’m getting off the subway train at Nostrand and Fulton just to pick up all this junk then try to get back on the train going home after standing 8 hours at work. The New York City Subway system is over 112 years old and getting worse in terms of running properly day by day. A 45 minute train ride can take up to 2 hours.
Usually once I’m on the train there is no getting off. Looks like I will be rescheduling these stupid G.I. tests for another time since I cannot take days off next week just to spend 1 day drinking nasty solution, have the procedure then report to work the next day. Impossible. Plus they actually expect you to have someone take you home after the procedure!! Huh! Come on! Most people my age work. I can’t get days off and neither can they nor do they live near me that should be responsible for me getting home safely.
Anyway I would not ask somebody to do that for me. I’ve gotten myself home from various hospital E.R.s at all hours of the day and night by myself in various states of medical distress with no help so when the time comes I can do it again. I’m used to this. Back in November 7, 2008 I had a minor stroke. Called my cousin thinking for sure that he would pick me up to take me home. I had lost vision in my left eye. Did he come for me at the hospital? Nope! He decided it would be more fun to take his then girlfriend out on the town! Go figure. That’s why I don’t rely on people and rarely ask for help. Real Life.
Also my finances are getting on an even keel. I’m starting to become more financially stable so I’m not going to risk that by missing days of work for some dumb tests. I like paying my rent and bills. I’m feeling more comfortable about my money situation. As long as I can do overtime all will be well.
Fun Stuff
The only exception I made in terms of train hopping was for my vitamin shot yesterday. That’s easy. It can be done after work. No problems. No issues. Simple. Easy Breezy. Love it.
Also looking forward to Celebrating Thanksgiving with Stephen and some of our New Jersey cousins. Looking into getting tickets for at least one perhaps two holiday shows. We don’t do Black Friday or as I like to call it Broke Friday!! LOL!! 🙂 😀
Entertainment Possibilities
The Hard Nut a take-off or satire of the Nutcracker
I had hoped to write a happy post. Something positive and uplifting for this Veteran’s Day but unfortunately with the results of yesterday’s presidential election there is not much good that can be said.
Those of you who served in the United States Army remember this Oath of Enlistment.
I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).
Forty years ago I raised my right hand and recited this Oath.
What happens when that enemy is not only domestic but has now become the Commander in Chief aka President of the United States of America. A man who is a well known sociopath and narcissist. A man whose evil rhetoric and divisive tactics split the nation into two camps. A man who if we allow him will bring if not World War Three but a Civil War where we will be maimed, lose property, jobs, life and limb.
I have to admit being that I work for a museum which mainly attracts the 1%, the wealthy, rich upper-crust of society who don’t give a damn about the working class, immigrants, Black Americans or any peoples of Color I went through my workday numb with interspersion of break times where colleagues sat in equally numb silence or made half-halfhearted attempts to console each other. A Filipina co-worker and I just hugged.
I especially look to my Jewish co-worker who is the voice of reason in all situations. We highly value and respect his opinion. He did give me some hope as did one of my Caribbean co-workers that maybe the Trump Nightmare this man eating bone crunching terminator machine will not completely destroy America as we know it.
As I watch the tourists, visitors and people who live in the white-bread world surrounding neighborhood laugh, joke, play with their kids, be happy I realize that they could be happy because Trump becoming president will not touch their world and in fact will probably make life better for them.
Most of the low echelon workers security and custodial are populated by immigrants, Muslims, people of Color, Hindus, you know the folks that Middle America, Republican Conservative America loves to hate, blame and make us scapegoats for all that is wrong with this country. We are the ones who secure, clean and console but are taken for granted.
We gather together hanging onto any words of hope or solace in this one of the saddest most depressing events in recent U.S. history. Huddling closer and closer attempting to create some type of safety net. But inside is that little voice of fear. We may not show it because we can’t after all we are not supposed to have any feelings or emotions only be subservient to the ruling majority. You know that Remains of the Day stiff upper lip type of thing.
For me the most heart wrenching thing as a U.S. Army Veteran is that the deed is done and there is little or nothing I can do to turn things around.
I fear another Middle Passage. The return of Slavery and Jim Crow. Or perhaps it never really left and was only waiting in the wings for the right actor to make an appearance on stage for it’s horrible reanimation. I Fear: Another Trail of Tears. Another Nazi Germany. Internment camps like the ones where Japanese-Americans were forced into during WWII. More police shootings or innocent Black people.
It also troubles me that many who voted for Trump live in the so-called Bible Belt. Well what Bible are you reading. You do know that Jesus was a Jew who live in a multi-cultural polytheistic society and no where in the Gospels where he is attacking his Greek, Roman or Egyptian neighbors or devaluing their belief systems. In fact Jesus saved most of his most scathing remarks for his fellow Jews/Hebrews specifically the Pharisees and Sadducees. Here is where Jesus got angry with hypocrites.
Matthew 21:12-13
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.13 “It is written,” he said to them,“‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.
Those who voted for Trump who is more of an Anti-Christ than a Christian have filled Presidency with a Thief!!
I am stunned, appalled and scared to death of this upcoming Trump Presidency. The KKK is going to be in the White House as of January 2017. I’m old enough to remember the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Folks this is real and is no joke.
The Healthcare law will be repealed, Civil Rights laws be dismantled. Every Black, brown, Jewish, Asian, Muslim, Native Americans, Hindu, Buddhist, all immigrants should be afraid. After all a year from now none of us may be here. My brother Stephen has Autism. There goes all the goods, services and programs for Disabled Americans.
We are going backwards to the 18th and 19th slavery Jim Crow days. My ancestors are weeping. I’m terrified!!
President Trump will keep his promise to Make America White again.
But after all the “Others” are gone what will America do then??? This man has sold you a bill of goods. He gave you poisoned Kool-Aid and you drank. Remember every decision, every choice has consequences. I hope that you can live with yours.
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 