Transition to Dialogue

At lunch today I managed to hear parts of a conversation. Below is the report of the bits and pieces I caught:

• African culture

• being dark African isn't as favorable as being cafe latte

• tend to be more attractive and successful

• its a shame

This is coming from someone who a week earlier verbalized his racial insensitivity.

And ignorance.

A girl in the program covered her hair with her cardigan for protection from the sun. When we met up with him to get back on the bus, he told us he had asked other students, "who is that Muslim girl they've made friends with". 

I smile.

"And then they said it was Carrie* and I was like oh okay." He pats her sides and resumes, "Just making sure you don't have a bomb and won't blow us all up."

Roaring laughter, dropped jaws, surprised faces.

I don't smile.

This should be a starting place for dialogue, of entry into why certain things, even jokes meant in the best way, are not necessarily alright. And don't have to be tolerated. Even good intentions need to be addressed sometimes.

*names have been changed