The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

One memory I have of witnessing prejudice is when I was in a restaurant and a mixed couple was waiting for quite sometime to be waited on. Many people were coming in the restaurant to be seated and also got their meals ahead of them. The couple asked to see the manager and he was very apologetic. The waiter made it clear that he did not want to wait on them. He was immediately fired and the manager saw to it that not only did they get their meal but it was on the house and they was invited back.

This situation diminished equity in that the couple because they was mixed were treated differently and discriminated against. They were viewed as being different because of the color of their skin. They were not treated fairly.

 The feelings this situation bought up was that my husband and I experienced a situation of prejudice/discrimination because of the color of our skin and the kind of car we was driving. We was singled out because I guess we are not supposed to drive a nice car if so we must be involved in some illegal activity. It was a horrible experience and one I would never want anyone to go through. After it was all over they was so apologetic not that the made the situation better. We were both very disturbed by the incident. We was driving through a small town headed to Syracuse after leaving a naval base in Plattsburgh. As we drove through the town we could see why we was singled out. That too was indeed racial profiling. Never Again.

I would say in both cases is to change the thinking and mentality of folks, the waiter, and the police. People need to learn that every African American is not a criminal. Some of us work and have very good jobs that put us in a good position. There are a lot of people out there we need to change in order to make things better. Sad to say even today bias, prejudice, oppression and discrimination still exist.