Racism is everywhere

I grew up in the south – the deep south of the US, where racism was rampant when I grew up. Blacks lived on the other side of town, used a different bathroom than whites and even a different entrance into a building, at least the building they were allowed in. I admit that I had felt that divide my entire life but never had I experienced what it was like to be treated differently, to be hated until 2013. I had just started a new job and had to catch two different trains to get to work. I worked on the fringes of Brisbane CBD where the brewery was, along with car repair places. Our offices faced the Brisbane River. I couldn’t be happier until one day I was on the train when a tall large boned woman sat down next to me. If you have ever been on a train, the seats are not all that wide. She kept putting her elbow in my side until I spoke up and ask her to be careful. I wasn’t rude, I just asked politely. She immediately got in my face and called me names telling me to go back the #%$& where I came from. I was floored. I went on to work and just dismissed the incident. As I said, I had to change trains which I did at Central station in Brisbane CBD. One morning after the incident on the train, I was learning up against the wall and talking on the phone to my cousin in the US waiting for my train to arrive when I saw this same woman. She immediately began to chase me. Now we are on the platform which is about 100 feet wide with two tracks running on each side. I ran around searching for someone, anyone to help. I spotted a train employee and ran to them. Their reaction was they thought it was some sort of domestic dispute to which I replied I don’t know this woman. The next incident was when I was at the train station near my work waiting to board the train when she saw me and came up to me and began to scream at me. I immediately got on the phone and called the police asking for them to meet me at Central Station. This was when my angel appeared. A little woman who became my dearest friend came to me and said “I have seen her to do to another woman. She shoved her out of the train door when it opened. The lady she shoved was Asian.” From that moment, I was experiencing and finally having a deep appreciation for what people of other beliefs, races, and colors have experienced their entire lives, racism. The police took the incident seriously and recorded the information. But, the lady didn’t stop. She began to follow me, take pictures of me. I was terrified she would push me onto the train tracks. And, of course, out of all those people who just stood there and watched these incidents, no one did a thing except for my dear friend. One particular incident I took the arm of a man in line and said can you help me to which he replied “Get your $#@* hand off me.” So getting help was out of the question. The police suggested I take the train at a different time. In other words, change up my routine. I thought back to Sept 11th and thought I’ll be damn if I’m going to let this woman run my life. After the next incident I was so shook up I went to the police station near where I worked and filed another report. I wanted it lodged as a hate crime because that is what it was. I couldn’t believe I was talking about a hate crime. A concept alien to me, something I thought I would never have to face. As it turned out, a friend of the constable who took my report boarded the train the same place as this lady who by now I had obtained a photo of for the police. And, it also happens that the lady accosted the friend of the constable. Her biggest mistake. The police then paid her a visit and with the threat of being banned from using public transport she stopped her tirade against me. By then the racist lady had stalked me, threatened me all because I was American. I was different. She didn’t care who I was or what I had accomplished in life, who my friends were. She knew nothing about me other than I was different. This gave made me take a long hard look at my southern upbringing that was ingrained in me. I saw through different eyes, tolerant eyes, compassionate eyes. Eyes that I had not really looked through properly in all my years of living in the south. And, now I have moved back to the south and I see racism has not left. It is still here. Not made better by protests or riots. Still black and white, rich and poor, employed and unemployed. I would say to you, put on their shoes for just a moment like I did and see just how tough it is being different. And, ask yourself this question “Why must I hate someone because of who they are, what color they might be, where they went to school or where they live or even who they love?” Now pay very close attention to your answer.