Let It Be Sunday, 281!

I loved the story about interracial friendships. I have been in the company of “acquaintances” and persons that were in my life because of my community service and volunteering. Once , we had a luncheon at a rather wealthy person’s home. A we all arrived, I was shocked to come face to face with two lawn jockeys, black and in red/blue attire. Quite stark compared to the front of her white home. I was frozen in my tracks. Some of the other ladies came to stand next to me and all we could do was stare! For some ridiculous reason, all I could think about was Tara in Gone with the Wind! As our hostess came out to greet us, she looked straight at me and proceeded to tell me there was nothing wrong with collecting antiques! Are you kidding me? Her explanation was that an antique dealer was coming by to have a few of the areas in these “antiques” redone. In the front of her home? She also proceeded to tell me that she did not want to hear my diatribe on the Southern Law Poverty Center or the Civil War, or Civil Rights. They are just antiques! Needless to say, she kept trying to explain herself the whole luncheon and apologize if I was offended. I am not Black, I am Latina. I am a community volunteer. I am involved in in several social justice causes. I imagined myself being photographed, along with my colleagues, in this unforeseen situation. How would any of us explain a picture like that? It came to me that there had been conversations shared with her that begin to explain her off- handed comments and the fact that no one ever said- whoa- wait a minute here! There are just some things you can’t erase from your mind. On another occasion, I was discussing our recent visit to one of the detention centers to visit with some of the children and their families. We had been taking personal items, dvd movies, and clothes to help out in our own way. On one occasion, we met up for lunch and I began to discuss the current DACA situation. I was going on and on about how important it was to keep our eye on this particular issue, especially for the children. To my surprise, and later indignation, some of the attendees begin to look glazed over about my subject. I decided to leave it alone for now until one of my acquaintances turned to me and stated- I am with you on the kids thing, as long as my maid is not deported! Now, having read my first story, you have to begin to wonder exactly what kind of company I am keeping! When I went to respond and explain exactly what DACA was about, my good ole girlfriend explains to me that her maid has not been hired illegally and she did pay into FICA. But she needs her maid. Besides, it’s not like I give her my old clothes and make her eat at a separate table! So what is the moral to these stories? I believe there are MANY! First, I had no idea any of them felt that way. Secondly, I must have been asleep at these luncheons because it never dawned on me that I would ever be faced with questions about friendships and colleagues that would deem it okay to make comments like that! It gave me pause! I found myself in the middle of uncomfortable conversations. I have put it to prayer a lot! I can see the dilemma in friendships when you literally feel frozen in time. Makes you wonder- is it me? Blessings to all. Stay safe.

Cheryl, NYT and WaPo do give readers a limited amount of free articles to read. And anything to do with Covid19 is read without limits.
Joy, looking forward to seeing Camp Joy for ideas before we pack up for Yosemite! Also I’m interested in the article from The Cut. My bff happens to be a Black woman, 11 years older than myself.
The pictoral WaPo did for Sen Lewis made me cry. We’ve lost one of the greats. I couldn’t hold back the tears seeing the photo of Pres Obama putting the Medal Of Honor on John Lewis. I have had the pleasure of meeting them both during the times I spent in DC.
Hope everyone has a safe and fulfilling week. I’ll tidy up the garden, it brings me peace in these trying times.