The Bitter Truth is that as far as we have come, we still have miles to go in America when it comes to ending racism. Case in point the hate filled comments that peppered the internet after Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, a dark skinned woman of Indian decent, was crowned Miss America. Twitter post like "OMG a Dot Head is Miss America" and "Obama must be a happy a Muslim is now Miss America" flooded social media.
Never mind that Nina is beautiful, although not in the traditional Southern Bleached Blonde Miss Piggy way we are used to capturing the crown. Forget that she is smart (getting a degree) or that she wants top help the recent fire torn town of Seaside Heights, New Jersey. All that some ignorant people saw was the color of her skin. Proof positive that America is full of racists.
I've witnessed it first hand. I know, you're looking at my pale white exterior and think "White boy please!" True, I'm white. And Middle class. But my wife, the love of my life, mother of my kids is not. She's dark skinned Asian. Some think her Indian or even African American. But I choose her for the love in her heart, not skin color. I ignored my grandmother's advice "Don't marry a Darkie." Okay, she was from a different generation and gave my that tip to me in the 1970s. Times were different then. (or were they) I'm not calling my grandma a racist, she was a lovely woman full of heart and caring for everyone. The statement was something that came from her upbringing in the 1930s. When people didn't know better. But this is 2014 and they should now!
Nope. Many time in her presence I have seen racism up close. Dozens of times, people who would never think of themselves as ignorant have asked, "What are you?" Some still use the term "Oriental." Because we live in liberal California and often vacation in even more free New York City we easily forget that we are an inter-racial couple with mixed kids. On a recent trip to Florida we were dirty eyeballed by several hat wearing, God fearing locals at a local Cracker Barrel when my dark wife and I entered with our mixed kids. Years ago when we first started dating we were in the backwoods of Maine looking for a breakfast spot. We went to an empty Denny's (this was years before they were proved racist) and we seated in the back of the restaurant by a pile of dirty dished and garbage. When we asked for a better seat (the place only had 2 other couple eating there) we were told "This is the only table we have for your type." We left, but not until I called out the manager.
Racism exists in some places it always will. Miss America is beautiful. And she is dark skinned. And ignorant racists comments shouldn't ruin her moment and that's the Bitter Truth.
Never mind that Nina is beautiful, although not in the traditional Southern Bleached Blonde Miss Piggy way we are used to capturing the crown. Forget that she is smart (getting a degree) or that she wants top help the recent fire torn town of Seaside Heights, New Jersey. All that some ignorant people saw was the color of her skin. Proof positive that America is full of racists.
I've witnessed it first hand. I know, you're looking at my pale white exterior and think "White boy please!" True, I'm white. And Middle class. But my wife, the love of my life, mother of my kids is not. She's dark skinned Asian. Some think her Indian or even African American. But I choose her for the love in her heart, not skin color. I ignored my grandmother's advice "Don't marry a Darkie." Okay, she was from a different generation and gave my that tip to me in the 1970s. Times were different then. (or were they) I'm not calling my grandma a racist, she was a lovely woman full of heart and caring for everyone. The statement was something that came from her upbringing in the 1930s. When people didn't know better. But this is 2014 and they should now!
Nope. Many time in her presence I have seen racism up close. Dozens of times, people who would never think of themselves as ignorant have asked, "What are you?" Some still use the term "Oriental." Because we live in liberal California and often vacation in even more free New York City we easily forget that we are an inter-racial couple with mixed kids. On a recent trip to Florida we were dirty eyeballed by several hat wearing, God fearing locals at a local Cracker Barrel when my dark wife and I entered with our mixed kids. Years ago when we first started dating we were in the backwoods of Maine looking for a breakfast spot. We went to an empty Denny's (this was years before they were proved racist) and we seated in the back of the restaurant by a pile of dirty dished and garbage. When we asked for a better seat (the place only had 2 other couple eating there) we were told "This is the only table we have for your type." We left, but not until I called out the manager.
Racism exists in some places it always will. Miss America is beautiful. And she is dark skinned. And ignorant racists comments shouldn't ruin her moment and that's the Bitter Truth.
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