"I’m scared, Mommy.”
We stood on the street in front of our house that is nestled in a newly developed middle class neighborhood and stared at the black spray paint that threatened “Your next” and a swastika sign.
Un.be.liev.able.
I’m not sure who I was trying to convince but I managed to say, “It’s okay, Baby.” But I instantly regretted my words and told myself, “This is not okay. This is not okay.”
The fact that they painted the swastika backwards and misspelled “you’re” reassured me that this was a few punk kids being ignorant, but the racial connotation in a new generation of hate angered me beyond what my emotions could politely cope with.
When Keilani was about 3-years-old, another child who was a few years older told Keilani, as she climbed over a wall to enter the play area, “You can’t come in here, only white kids can play in here.”
I could spill out story after story of incidents of prejudice throughout my life – but I won’t. As angered as I feel over the injustices I have felt all because the color of my skin seems but a drop of water in a sea of frustration when I see it affect my child.
My faith in the human race dwindled a bit yesterday.
17 comments:
Oh, Rochelle....I am so sorry. I can't even imagine what you must be feeling! I wish I could be there to hug you and pray with you and Keilani. Know that I am praying for you and your dear family.
Rochelle - Oh. My. Word. I am so very sorry. I don't have any words for this. I said a prayer for you just now. I really have no words. Why? Why?!?!?!!!
Oh Rochelle.....I am praying for you guys....Love you so much.
Amy
THAT is horrible. :( I am so sorry. I cannot believe people can be so ignorant. :(
How frustrating! Tell your daughter not to fear you will have lots of us praying for you and your home.
My heart-and my prayers-go out to you and your family.
Oh UGH...I'm so sorry. I know they have souls, but honestly, some people can act so hateful sometimes. Skin is so unimportant...it's the heart that matters and actions like that show what color their heart is...and it's not pure. My sympathy to you for having to be faced with such a thing. Hang in there.
Thanks everyone... your words are exactly what I needed! There were a total of 7 places hit with racial graffiti. Channel 5 came and interviewed me and Keilani. (I wish I would have known they were coming though so I could have presented myself a little better! :) Hopefully with the news coverage they are caught before anything else happens.
Oh Rochelle, this saddens me so, and I felt numb while reading your post. When I was a young girl, our family lived on what most called the "wrong side of the tracks". I can only go back to that to realize the numerous emotions you have. Love you and will be praying you, Keilani and hubby.
Rochelle,
Karen Hopper alerted me to your situation. I am going to post on my blog concerning these racist acts of hatred. You will be in my prayers. May God help us all realize we are more alike than different and that we should treat each other as though our shared humanity matters. I am a Christian. Perhaps, that's why I care.
Helen Losse
http://helenl.wordpress.com/
I come up as DeadMule because I'm the poetry editor there.
Hi Rochelle,
Sorry to hear about this incident and that your daughter has to go through this. Although I'm not black, when I was a child, I used to tan very dark in the summer. I remember an incident as a kid where I was riding my bike, and some man that I didn't even know called me a nigger. It sure hurt a lot back then to think that someone I didn't even know would automatically dislike me because of my perceived skin color. Thank God Keilani is in a home where she can be raised to be color blind.
In spite of it all, I hope you and your family will have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Blessings,
Carol
thinking of you.
Sis Hopper - thank you so much for your comment. Thank you for sharing. You are always so sweet.
Helen - thank you for your post on your blog. The support in the comments on your blog have been so comforting. :)
Carol - I HATE that that happened to you! That's terrible!! And thank you so much for your kind words.
Leigh - thank you so much.
Joining in with everyone. I will keep you in my prayers!!
Rochelle, I am so sorry to hear of this terrible happening. When I found out about this, I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. I cannot even fathom how this has affected you, your husband, and your precious and beautiful Keilani! Please tell Keilani a lady in California is praying for her and that I have asked Jesus to put an entire circle of angels around her. Also, let her know that God does not give us the spirit of fear. So, when we feel fearful, it is because the devil wants us to be scared.
Rochelle, there just aren't any words that can really help. I wish I could hug you and let you cry on my shoulder. I wish the jerks who did this would be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law. I wish you never have to feel the wrath that comes when "Mommy's baby" is scared because of some imps of the devil. I wish you the peace of Jesus. Rochelle, I will be at church early tomorrow morning and I will have our church pray for you and your family. I love you.
Rochelle, I, too am so sorry that this would happen! It's just too far fetched for me to get a handle on. I don't understand these kind of actions!!!! I will also be praying for you and the family. Please give Keilani and big hug from all of us in "blogworld". LOVE and PRAYERS!
Sister Pryor - Thank you sooooo much. You are so sweet.
Sister Allard - You words were very comforting and built our faith.
Sister Elms - Thank you so much for you comment and especially your prayers. Everyone is blogworld has been so encourgaing!
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