Should Be Thicker Than But Flows Just Like Water

You'd think it was me being dissed the way I'm feeling. I tweeted about this earlier, but it deserves more elaboration:

You should fight for your friendships. When you feel hurt, say something. If you feel you did wrong, say something. Pride.. #itsnotworthit

Please explain the point and/or justification in ignoring. Silence will not make the situation any better. It will harbor bitterness and lead to a failed friendship. Speak up. It's nothing that can't be fixed.

Let me put it a little more plainly (that was too wordy): you should stop treating the person you call a good friend of yours, kin even, that way. If you have a problem with them you should tell them instead of deleting their number or blocking them or removing them from your friendslists. That will not make them or the problem go away. Instead, try doing the grown up thing and approaching them. 

I promise. They want to hear from you.

Keep your friends close and your brethren closer. 

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

You've Been Bamboozled

I believe that is blackface.

Say hello.

Don't Ask For Soulja Boy at the Karaoke Bar

We went to a karaoke bar tonight after the fireworks for some Saint holiday. Being the songstress I am (thank you thank you), I went up to sing. As soon as I walked up there, the DJ said "no rap".

... what?

Just Call Me Michelle

Between yesterday and today I've heard, been told, and asked some things while not unbelievable, unbelievable.

I've been called Michelle Obama, twice. 

If I was only a foot taller and 60 pounds heavier, maybe.

When asked where I'm from and I said "New York", Italians responded "Obama".

He's from everywhere in America apparently.

I've been asked to my face "where is Daisy*" in asking about Sade*, the other black girl, a light-skinned black girl with natural curly hair whom I look nothing alike, responding with my hand raised "right here". "Oh", she says, "whose the other girl?" 

Typical.

 

When a reggae song came on that I knew the words to, my roommate asked "Dahlia who is that!?" I said I didn't know. She says, "Dahlia, come on you don't know!? How do you not know?" 

I should know all things colored.

Susie* informed me that when she gets drunk she puts on a Southern accent. She does it very well actually.

I hope she does it all the time. Seriously.

Katie* asked Ruma* "where you are from?" She said, "I'm from New York". The other says, "Okay, where are your parents from?" She responds, "I'm Indian if that's what you're asking."

If you look foreign, you are.

*Parties involved asked that their real names would not be used.