When I was growing up I was told that first a neighborhood goes jewish, then it goes black, then your home value goes to crap.
When I moved to my first apartment in a racially diverse suburb my parents were “concerned” about the “safety” of the area.
Not that they provided financial support for me to live elsewhere, just judgement.
It was a fine area.
My partner is Persian.
The first time my dad met him he told him the following joke: “Do you know why they call camels the ships of the dessert? They’re full of arab seamen”
The first time my stepfather met him he made some comment about riding camels.
My partner is from a city the size of NYC. He’s educated, bilingual.
When I was in the ER I specifically asked for my father not to be allowed back. my partner saw him wandering around looking for me, no mask, no questions asked, in the middle of covid, because he is an old white man.
But my partner was stopped attempting to exit the wrong door of the hospital.
When we were pulled over by a cop for headlights not being turned on after pulling out from a gas station, my partner said it was the calmest interaction he’d ever had with law enforcement. He was in a new car, well dressed, clean shaven, and polite. As always. But he can’t change his accent or his skin.
When I got home I cried my eyes out.
I did not know things were still this bad.
I’m so sorry. For anyone who is still treated this way.
It’s not ok. I didn’t see it before but I do now.
I asked him how he gets through it. He said he just smiles and says it isn’t about him it’s their problem.
He’s my hero
Always.
Laughs and Lobotomies 