Something happened Monday that hubby and I were witness too. It was ugly and revealing; it left me speechless and saddened, ashamed to be fair skinned in a day and age when racism should have been long since eliminated. I suppose living in a small town that isn’t as diverse as it could be shelters me from this ugly aspect of humanity so when it so blatantly appears, it cuts deeply.
We were in the city on errands and having missed lunch hubby and I dropped into Harvey’s for a hamburger. I like Harvey’s burgers, it’s the only fast food joint we ever frequent…..because, wait for it……Harvey’s makes a hamburger a beautiful thing.
I was waited on by a very handsome young black man with eyes that sparkled like diamonds. Normally when I write, I don’t distinguish a person’s skin colour but this time it’s relevant to the story. I placed my order, we chatted a bit about the weather then I moved aside and an older gent behind me stepped up to the counter.
While the business of his order was being addressed, a very beautiful, young black woman came out front and was checking on the apple turnovers in the warming oven, she pulled one of the packages out and was surprised to find it empty. She laughed saying something about the missing tart to her co-worker who was taking the man’s order. The older gent, who obviously didn’t hear or understand what she said, instantly accused the young woman of laughing at him. He was livid, demanding to speak to the manager. She arrived and there were loud words for several minutes before she diffused the situation. The young girl stood back by the fryers, her face looked deflated, her whole demeanor went south, shoulders slumped and appeared diminished, her eyes looked fearful.
Standing close by I could hear and see what was happening, the ugliness and utter unfairness of it permeated the room. The young girl’s face told a story, one that she’d clearly read before. It was painfully abvious; she was being persecuted because of the colour of her skin. He glowered at her and there was ice in his stare. How can anyone hate another person with that kind of ferocity? I don’t understand but I hear it all the time on the news; prejudice, profiling and persecution for the colour of someone’s skin and seeing it firsthand hit like a wrecking ball.
Our food arrived and the young man dressed my burger and as our eyes met, his weren’t so sparkly now. I wanted him to know I was appalled by the man. Being born white I really have no idea the pain suffered by others because of their skin pigment, but I can be sympathetic and supportive. I shook my head and rolled my eyes in the man’s direction, and then I winked to try to lighten the mood. His brilliant smile came back online. I went to my table wondering how many times these kids had to deal with that kind of crap while serving the public.
The man’s rant swallowed time and left a line up behind him several people deep. When the manager had come out and took over, she was a white woman, someone acceptable and obviously ‘his kind’ of people and he grumbled but settled down. She defended the young woman as best she could, but the man was ugly both figuratively and literally, his toothless mouth muttering, he wasn’t willing to believe any other story than his own warped account. He took his meal to a table and ate alone and a part of me, the part that believes we are all equal, except for the stupid that will never get it, wished he would choke on his burger. Nothing boils my blood more than someone being treated unfairly without justification.
As we left the restaurant, hubby went back to the counter and told the young woman rather loudly, his voice reaching the entire eating area where the man sat, to “keep on smiling” and she flashed him a beautiful grin, her face radiant once again. I hope our small gesture of support helped to balance out the unfair discrimination of that small minded bigot.
We were in the city on errands and having missed lunch hubby and I dropped into Harvey’s for a hamburger. I like Harvey’s burgers, it’s the only fast food joint we ever frequent…..because, wait for it……Harvey’s makes a hamburger a beautiful thing.
I was waited on by a very handsome young black man with eyes that sparkled like diamonds. Normally when I write, I don’t distinguish a person’s skin colour but this time it’s relevant to the story. I placed my order, we chatted a bit about the weather then I moved aside and an older gent behind me stepped up to the counter.
While the business of his order was being addressed, a very beautiful, young black woman came out front and was checking on the apple turnovers in the warming oven, she pulled one of the packages out and was surprised to find it empty. She laughed saying something about the missing tart to her co-worker who was taking the man’s order. The older gent, who obviously didn’t hear or understand what she said, instantly accused the young woman of laughing at him. He was livid, demanding to speak to the manager. She arrived and there were loud words for several minutes before she diffused the situation. The young girl stood back by the fryers, her face looked deflated, her whole demeanor went south, shoulders slumped and appeared diminished, her eyes looked fearful.
Standing close by I could hear and see what was happening, the ugliness and utter unfairness of it permeated the room. The young girl’s face told a story, one that she’d clearly read before. It was painfully abvious; she was being persecuted because of the colour of her skin. He glowered at her and there was ice in his stare. How can anyone hate another person with that kind of ferocity? I don’t understand but I hear it all the time on the news; prejudice, profiling and persecution for the colour of someone’s skin and seeing it firsthand hit like a wrecking ball.
Our food arrived and the young man dressed my burger and as our eyes met, his weren’t so sparkly now. I wanted him to know I was appalled by the man. Being born white I really have no idea the pain suffered by others because of their skin pigment, but I can be sympathetic and supportive. I shook my head and rolled my eyes in the man’s direction, and then I winked to try to lighten the mood. His brilliant smile came back online. I went to my table wondering how many times these kids had to deal with that kind of crap while serving the public.
The man’s rant swallowed time and left a line up behind him several people deep. When the manager had come out and took over, she was a white woman, someone acceptable and obviously ‘his kind’ of people and he grumbled but settled down. She defended the young woman as best she could, but the man was ugly both figuratively and literally, his toothless mouth muttering, he wasn’t willing to believe any other story than his own warped account. He took his meal to a table and ate alone and a part of me, the part that believes we are all equal, except for the stupid that will never get it, wished he would choke on his burger. Nothing boils my blood more than someone being treated unfairly without justification.
As we left the restaurant, hubby went back to the counter and told the young woman rather loudly, his voice reaching the entire eating area where the man sat, to “keep on smiling” and she flashed him a beautiful grin, her face radiant once again. I hope our small gesture of support helped to balance out the unfair discrimination of that small minded bigot.
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