Have You Ever Experienced Racism? If so, please feel free to share about it here.
I think people would be shocked if they knew the number of peoples who are subjected to racism on a daily basis.
Several times and onetime that really stands out and it was as a White guy watching Black friends of mine get treated poorly
in 1993, Notre Dame hosted a major league Table Tennis Tournament called the St Joseph Open. I used to be a top player in Cincinnati. At that time, several of the other top players in town including my regular two (open and under 3500 rating) partners were African-Americans.
I and several friends drove up from Cincinnati. Me-then a 34 year old White guy, and five other guys. one was a 60 year old black man-a high ranking postal employee who had served in the marines. The second a 38 year old Black guy who not only was a very good player but was well respected throughout the midwest in a couplel sports. The third man-my age, is a well known news Anchor in cincinnati, He's black as well. The fourth, also Black is a EMT and Cincinnati FD heavy rescue Fireman. The last Man,also about my age, is Also Black, he owns his own business. Everyone was dressed as well or better than the other patrons. No backward baseball caps, no pants half down to the knees, etc.
we arrived in South Bend late. Looking for Dinner, we went to some Jock Sports Bar that seemed populated with ND students etc. Most of them white. We sat for a HALF HOUR before one of the servers even walked past us. I got pssed and finally grabbed one of the servers. After getting an attitude I didn't like including what I was doing sitting with "five of them" I noted I was a civil rights attorney and I'd be more than happy to call up the Local US attorneys office and file a complaint. that seemed to get attention
As I was leaving I noted that for all these people knew, some of the guys with me were Ex Notre Dame athletes (the fireman had played Triple A baseball and the News Anchor was a former Div III All American in a couple sports)coming back for a Basketball game that had just ended that night.
No doubt in my mind that was racism. No doubt in my mind that sort of crap happens more than anyone would care to admit. Not only that, my friends were all respected members of the community, all had good jobs, two had served their country and one had-and continues to-save peoples' lives.
When I talked to them about this the older Gentleman joked that he was glad "we brought our white boy attorney with us". The other guys laughed but noted it wasn't the first time they had been subjected to such treatment. Another noted that he could understand it if we all were dressed like gang-bangers and carry on but we weren't and he as tired about being blamed for such "riff raff"
