Those of you who know me know that I have a horrible iced coffee addiction. I came to Strarbucks on my lunch break last week to read, have a cup of java, and enjoy a few minutes of silence. There was an African American boy who sat outside with a box of chips and candy to try and sell. Now, I do not carry cash on me and never buy random things like this. He sat outside the door and just asked each person as they walked in if they wanted to buy a bag a chips. Time and time again he was rejected. I sat and watched for a few minutes and felt myself beginning to feel frustrated for this kid. It wasn't the fact that no one would buy his chips, it was how no one even would stop and listen to the kid or even look him in the eyes as they said no. Finally, one man stopped and bought a bag of chips...an African American male. I couldn't help but wonder what went through his head as each white person walked by and totally ignored him, and literally the only person who stopped was one who "looked like him." As I was leaving I bought him a soda and told him I hope he stayed cool in this heat and good luck with his chip sale. Do I say this to boast, absolutely not. Just hoping to encourage people to open their eyes to the change that still needs to happen.
Second story....
My youngest daughter had a birthday party to go to for a little girl in her class. Most the people who were in her pre-k class were wealthier white people. We rushed to Target to pick out a Barbie doll for the little girl. Rylee (my daughter) grabbed an African American swimming barbie. My immediate reaction was to grab a white one because I wasn't sure if the girls family would like this. This is a probem! Thoughts like this shouldn't even cross our minds. Shame on me for even thinking this. I hate that we still have thoughts like this and in some families it is a problem. So what did we do? Bought the cute little black Barbie doll.
Third story,
Driving home from church today and noticed an African women standing by the bus stop in the rain. She was wearing what looked like to be a golden African dress and holding a purple umbrella. I noticed she began to walk towards the church and assumed that was where she was headed. I rushed home to grab something and about five minutes later I was headed back out the door. As I drove back down the street I noticed the same women was about a block from where I previously saw her walking. Car after car drove past this poor women without stopping. I was a bit nervous to offer her a ride with my youngest in the car, but it was raining too hard to ignore her. I pulled over and asked if she would like a ride somewhere and she gladly accepted. She stated she attended church and her husband was suppose to pick her up and never showed up. She told me how she moved here from African two years ago and really missed her family. It was an awkward ride, but I didn't want to be another person who drove by and did nothing. Once again, not sharing this to boast, but as hopefully a form of encouragement. It is time to get out of our comfort zones and stand up for issues we like to pretend are not happening. There are opportunities all around us!
My heart breaks the way there are issues right in front of us, but we would rather stay quiet and pretend they are not happening (preaching to myself). I want to be the change I desire and encourage you to do the same. It's not hard to offer a ride, buy a bag of chips, and even go much farther to truly love someone who is different then you. It's time to stop pretending that these issues do not exist. It's time for change.
I'm ending this with my current favorite picture right now. It is a picture of my youngest daughter and my sweet niece. In most situations, people are not born racist, it is taught. Oh to have the hearts like these kids who don't even notice skin, just family.
