CalvinBall wrote:Had one of the strangest experiences of my year so far during my lunch break.
I was sitting in my car outside a deli playing a game on my phone and listening to NPR. Some man, walking to his car which is next to mine, shouts something/tries to make a joke about white privilege. The general gist being it does not exist/is an excuse black people use. Mind you, I said nothing to this person. He is a white, 60 year old man wearing a hospital scrub top and jeans.
For the next 20-25 minutes he engaged me about his views on race. Many times he told me he used to be liberal (was there for Bill Clinton's campaign! Do I remember them?). But 30 years of experience working with black people have changed him, he claims.
Some highlights:
-Black men do not want to put their name on the birth certificate and black children born out of wedlock/without fathers is almost entirely a black problem.
-Black women have babies so they can get welfare etc.
-Social programs have led to black people being entitled, not wanting to work
-Black families were statistically more complete in the 1950s and segregation was basically good because it helped keep black families together.
Anyways, it was pretty insane. He is sick of people protesting outside of his hospital (he mentioned Penn, which white people built or something) and being label a racist. I am too young and too idealistic to seethe real truths about the black community (and puerto ricans).
Tons of questions here:
Why were you nnamdi'ing it in your car during lunch
Did you ever verbally say anything to the man or even acknowledge him during this period
Did you consider exiting your vehicle or driving away at any point
If not why not
Was your window rolled down during this exchange. If so, did you roll it up
Were your car doors locked or unlocked
Did passers by witness this and if so how did they appear to react
