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I Asked Him Why He Winced and Whispered When He Mentioned His Sister’s Black Husband
Maybe I shouldn’t have but if someone doesn’t say something, who will?
This probably was one of those moments I should’ve walked away sooner but my constant high keeping me docile was wearing off. And nothing pisses me off more than “casual” racism— if that’s what you could call what he did. He insisted he was simply commenting, but it’s all in the way it was said.
I know I wasn’t wrong.
I’d shown up at a theme park Halloween event to accompany a friend who’d come alone and texted to ask me to join him since we went together in a group before every week usually. Perhaps I should’ve said no. He’d put his foot in his mouth several times since I’d known him and I’d called him out for it.
but I was more than disappointed in him this night and in myself, too, I’ll admit.
“Casual” racism doesn’t belong in conversation. Or anywhere.
We were standing in line for one of the mazes, happy as clams, chatting as he slung back another drink, only his second, and not a big deal. Still it was enough for him to loosen up a little too much.
