Fight Racism

I sometimes learn the most from people who are the most different from me.

Myfriend Mike, who works with me at the pizza parlour sleeps outside on some crates. He loves his job, though, and I love to work with him. Who could hate a man that loves sleeping outside? Who else would make sure no one f*cks with our store at night. My friend Graveyard helps me pick up garbage on the street sometimes around Oakland Cemetary, he’s a displaced grave painter from New Orleans and sleeps on the streets most nights, but he has a gate with a lock on it and counts his blessings carefully. My friend Sean volunteers frequently with a homeless shelter and is the Doorman for Ritz-Carlton Atlanta. We were valet together at Mrs. King’s Private Family Wake. It was an honor to even be invited, and a rainy day. The list goes on, but I won’t bore the public with details. Why waste time hating, look for the good in people. I experience discrimination at work and do not believe in reverse discrimination, because there is only one type racism. I’m afraid we all have just a littlein each of us, the difference comes from how/if you talk about and deal with it. More on this later, right now I only have to worry about living my life everyday. Peace :)

My new second job, I am one of two white guys. So My nickname became instantly: “The new white guy”. Explained by the titles of”new phone girl” and “new-new phone girl”. So I decided to become the “New-new-new phone girl” instead, because it “has a nicer ring to it”. That seems to have worked, because now everyone thinks I’m funny, or at least they’re all laughing at me ;)

�Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve.�
- The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I went to my friends Bus stop and picked up 4 bags of garbage(all of the trash) earlier this morning. Some people stopped to say hello, I met my friends neighbor. I told him once that I would do it, because I do it in my own neighborhood and I also do it when I hike trails occasionally seeing the need. It took less than an hour today, and now the wildflowers are noticable against the green grass. The neighbor told me her story of cleaning up Chicago and Boston in the early 70’s after the ‘68 riots. Her strategy for getting the community involved. It’s uncomfortable for me in that part of our city sometimes because I look obviously out of my place. I’ve this from time to time at other bus stops and while living in a “country” part of Atlanta city picked up my intersection. I found out that the 80 acre park behind my house was known for stolen cars being dumped in it. Many people warned me about certain Apartment complexes close by and advised me not to jog along the road, especially at night. Whatever, I just cleaned the empty intersection lots during afternoon traffic so my neighbors would know why the intersection looked better. No more worries. I’ve done this in a super busy intersection to raise money for leukemia research, too. I had friends hold buckets (roadblocking) while I cleaned the gutters. Collected $180 and bought mailing supplies to send out donation letters… raising $4500 with it and still having envelopes left to do it again! All in all I just enjoy volunteering myself to the things I love.

It honestly surprises me that this isn’t a goal of more people!

I have been opposing racism, entering into gentle dialogue with others with the purpose of understanding how racism is perpetrated, and how I can seek to overcome it. I’ve debated with others at some forums on race, and have stood up for those who are unjustly stereotyped and attacked for race, religion, nationality, creed, even sexual preference. Some white supremacists have even distributed my photo and issued veiled threats. But I will not back down.

I may not be wealthy or powerful, but I have the conviction of knowing truth, love, and being saved by the Creator.