Small Acts of Racism: Act 1

Act 1

Small Acts of Racism

#smallactsofracism

#smallactsofracismact1

#Act1

We are often encouraged to engage in small acts of kindnesses on a daily basis, but rarely do we speak of the small acts of racism people of color experience everyday by white people who claim to “not have a racist bone in their body.” I hope to share something for the next 30 days.

Act 1: I went to get a medical test done at the hospital the other day. I had to check in at the main hospital desk. In spite of a sign that says, “please wait” at a certain line for privacy purposes per HPPA, an older white man sidles up to the desk, invades my personal bubble and asks what room someone was in. He did not say excuse me or acknowledge my presence. The older white woman who was helping me, stopped what she was doing and directed him to a phone to call the operator and ask for the room number. She did not apologize or acknowledge that he was invading my privacy. I was inclined to let it go, but immediately after, AN OLDER WHITE WOMAN DID THE SAME THING NOT THIRTY SECONDS LATER. She was not present when the older white male did the same thing. She got the same result, but the lady behind the desk NEVER SAID, “would you stand back and wait your turn.” The two white people acted like I wasn’t there, literally like they didn’t see me and the white woman behind the desk didn’t acknowledge that my privacy mattered as a matter of law or humanity.

I hate to break it to you, but if you are white, you have likely engaged in the same types of behavior simply because you weren’t taught to see us or that we mattered.

#smallactsofracism
#actsofracism
#yourcolorispower