The other day my husband and I were talking to our neighbor, just random small talk stuff. BTW she is white and if I have not mentioned before my husband is Puerto Rican. So our conversation swings around to the economy (as seems to be the case with almost all conversations of late) and she mentions that she was at the Home Depot earlier and it was empty. This is a big deal because on Long Island the Home Depot is always bustling. Then to illustrate her point she goes on to say, "there were more Puerto Ricans standing outside looking for work, then people in the store". Hmm...I look at my husband and he looks at me and we realize on that note it is time for us to go. The funny thing was that neither one of us was angry, we just chuckled at her ignorance.
A few things:
In this community the bulk of the men who wait outside of home warehouse stores and work with contractors, gardeners, roofing companies, etc.. are South American and Mexican. I am not sure if they are all illegal but the general assumption is that many are. Is it possible that their are Puerto Ricans out there? Sure, anything is possible but I think that based on the current state of immigration and employment politics in this country it is safe to assume that is not the case. Oh yeah, Puerto Ricans are not immigrants, they are United States citizens and have been since 1917. Learn to tell your latinos apart.
Why would she feel that comfortable to say something like that to us. Is it a simple case of foot in mouth disease or is white privilege more potent then crack.
The crazy thing is if you asked me whether she is a good neighbor or a nice person, I would probably say yes. Ignorance is complex.
Should we have "schooled" her right there on the spot? Should we have gotten angry and ripped her a new one? Should my husband have reminded her that he was Puerto Rican? Why do we always need to figure out what to do in situations like this? Why do we have to have the thicker skin?
Maybe I will have another opinion to share soon...Be well.
When Lyrics Get Lost in Translation
3 months ago
5 comments:
Surprisingly, there aren't that many Mexicans out there either. The large majority are from South and Central America. I guess we all look alike, huh? And yes...we should've schooled her. Not necessarily rip her a new one, but just inform. Then, call her a cracka and tell her all the things we gonna do once Obama gets elected!
LMAO @ the prican husband's comment. Yes, we all look alike. Forget that Puerto Ricans come in all shapes, sizes and colors (my mom has blonde hair, blue eyes - born in Penuelas) ... and if I know my family well, we'd be inventing new ways to live off of the system rather than sit outside Home Depot with "them" looking for actual work. Yes, we're complex.
JACK woulda 'throwed' her a lesson in how to speak to me ... that damn white elitism really is akin to crack, huh ...
To my husband: "You tell'm baby!!! When I get home we'll go over and kick her ass! LOL
JGC: You are my new best friend. For the record that is called Puerto Rican ingenuity.
YES! I sometimes get the impression that ignorant stuff is sometimes said because, well, they CAN say it, and no one is gonna stop them.
Crack indeed!
I might have said something to her, but not in a mean way, just to let her know.
But once I got home I would have called her all kinds of cracker and then blogged about it LOL!!!
YAY! *hugs Mrs. R*
but, oh yuh. Yes - Rican ingenuity. I have no idea why I maintain stable employment. I bet the rest of the family sits around all day talking about what an idiot I am.
I still woulda had to come right out my face at the whacked out cracker ass bitch ... because that's prican ingenuity too. Live off the system and tell random passersby why they suck. LMAO
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