Today I had a very productive, full, revitalizing, interesting day. The first day of many days that I had a long day but it was a good day. This morning started off rocky due to me getting into petty arguments with a family member. Whatever. Then I found myself in extreme anger due to he said/she said fiasco and began to lash out. Now, anybody who know me or has known me all my life knows I have a horrible temper and that is because I let things build up without saying anything. People who also know me, knows that once I speak up I speak the whole truth and lay out examples. I was out of line, but that is exactly what I did because I have had enough. Needless to say, as usual people want to make you out to be the crazy one. Well, we all know how that goes so lets move on.
Last week I signed up to go on a "field trip" to visit the delegates as well as the Governor to speak with them about how Tidewater Community College has helped me excel as a student, as well as how it accomodated me. We not only told them this but we also told them what could be done to better our community college, so that we could get funding. Lord knows we definitely need funding.
I enjoyed speaking with Delegate Algie Howell, who told us about how we are given such a big opportunity and no matter how the going gets rough to stay in school. He explained to us that he had just turned seventy-four years. He was one of three out of sixteen students in his graduating class who graduated college. He also reminded us that he grew up during the Jim Crow days, minorities were not welcome in the military let alone college. So he repeatedly reminded us, with open honesty that we were very blessed to be afforded such a grand opportunity.
Delegate Howell was also very honest when me and another student told him that were pursuing degrees in Psychology. Psychology, unless you have a Ph.D, is very low in demand in these bad economy days. He advised us to pursue to something close to Psychology, such as Sociology or perhaps something very close that would keep us in the job field.
I respected Delegate Howell's honesty, and I hold the utmost respect for him. He worked hard in the military despite all odds, as well as through college. I also respect the fact that he is the fifth oldest delegate. However, not so many people felt the same way, and I respect that. But, it is not what you say, but it is HOW you say it.
There is always this one revolutionary, anti-government, over militant, motor mouth person in a group when it comes to politics. And that is so fine, because when it comes to the tea party conservatives I can get like that too. BUT! I would never act like that if I was in a meeting of some sort with them. Granted, I would tell them how I felt and what I did not appreciate, but I would never be loud, beligerent, and rude.
This particular person was very loud, rude, condescending, accusing the delegates of lying to their face. Mind you, we are in the House of Delegates, in an elevator full of executives, Letterboys (If you don't know what a Letterboy is, Google it), other delegates, possibly the Governor, and this person is talking trash about the delegates, the governor, and the spokesperson at the assembly. On top of that, other people were upset because our tour guide was trying to tell them how to act in the building. I'm talking making threats behind the tour guide's back in front of all the delegates while they are in ear shot. Sadly to say, these were my people acting this way.
You know what I mean by my people. Black. African-American. Offsprings of sharecroppers. I was so emberassed, my already reddish brown complexion turned even redder. I looked like I had blood rushing to my head. I probably did I was so dizzy with emberassment. My African American brothers and sisters has got to do better. I am so sick and tired of my people emberassing me everywhere I go. I mean sheesh, I can't even go to the spa and get a relaxing mani and pedi without hearing or seeing an African American woman being loud, cursing demanding the nail tech that she better do her nails and feet right.
I am so tired of walking up in Barnes & Nobles and over hearing my African American brothers talk trash very loudly and cursing. It is ridiculous and people we have got to do better, and we have got to act better. Needless to say, I ended up eating my complimentary lunch at the Tobacco Company in Richmond having meaningful conversation with my Caucasian people. At the end of the lunch I was then hit with another wave of emberassment when I heard my African American brothers and sisters cursing loudly at the next table close to where the board members were eating. So sad.
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