Riding with racism

 Do you ride public transportation?  then racism rides with you, the subway is one of the few places where every single race congregates with one main goal - to get to where the hell they need to be, and with that said "lets talk about race baby”. Since the beginning of time people tend to feel the most comfort amongst their own culture. Almost every ethnicity seem to have their specific places that they get on or off buses and trains. Most African Americans heading to or from Brooklyn are usually from the caribbean or of caribbean decent. 125th street is sprinkled with Hispanics. And Canal Street is where you might find your Asian persuasions. Where ever you get on or off I'm pretty sure it's well within your comfort zone without you even noticing. But lets take it a little deeper, I've heard stories about individuals from one race not accepting a seat from a person of another race, random outbursts from one race against another in regards to oppression (there is a time and place for everything, and while I am riding to or from work, does not include the time when I need to hear tales from the slave ship/ sorry). There are rumors about which race is more swift when it comes to finding a space to sit. Everyone is guilty of seeing someone enter the train and thought – “hey what are you doing around these parts”, while shaking your head. Personally I have seen a dispute between an African American woman and a Hispanic woman. The Hispanic woman had a stroller with a young child and was offered a seat that was cleverly nabbed by the African American woman then things got heated. As they argued back and forth about who was wrong or right, we all sided with the mother of the child until she yelled "do you think I am afraid of you.. Why should I be afraid, because you're BLACK?" Whoa… Racism is that you? I was at a loss for thoughts, the black comment stuck with me for a while until a homeless bum decided he had enough yelled for both women to shut it. It only expresses the fact that racism lays dormant in our thoughts until our limits get tested. Most individuals would never admit to being racist, even to themselves, but would not dare sit next to any other race while commuting. But if there is no identification, there can be no solution.

Here are a few Stereotypes that are interesting and funny but not necessarily true.

·         All Asians rush for seats

·         All whites get off at 86th street uptown6

·         All Asians get off at canal all

·         All Hispanics get off at 125th street

·         All mean looking black people want to fight ... No, wait. Be careful.

·         All African Americans eating beef patties on the train is Jamaican.

·         All white people like to take their bikes on train.

It's ironic how something as simple as commuting brings so many together yet still we remain segregated. “Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason”- www.finestquotes.com

SSP.