Tag Archives: book

Fan Friday—Racism


I’m am so sick of feeling like I should apologize because I’m white.

I didn’t ask to be born white. Black people didn’t ask to be born black.

I didn’t ask to be born into a middle-class family, upwardly mobile, even. Black people didn’t ask to be born into whatever class they, individually, were born into—see, I can’t even say “poor,” because while the majority of black people may be poor or whatever term one wishes to use, you absolutely can’t say that of all of them and there are plenty of poor and disadvantaged white people too.

Just like ALL white people aren’t living the life of a CEO with a million dollars—or a lot more. Okay, maybe most of the rich people, the really rich ones, ARE white, but they aren’t ME.

Do I think it’s wrong that SOME white people think that black people are inferior and show that by pulling them over in traffic stops for no reason, or shooting them with little or no provocation, or blaming them for everything, or thinking they’re dumb? OF COURSE.

But the people who do that are not ME.

So you know what? I’m done apologizing. I do want to learn, to study, to ask questions and have an open dialogue, but I’m done apologizing for being white.

I never owned slaves; neither did, to my knowledge, my ancestors. I never believed it was right to own another person. At the same time, while it’s history, it’s OVER. Just like the flying or display of the Confederate flag, which is also history, the war is over, which is why, presumably, those flags are falling right and left.

You can’t have it both ways. You can’t go on and on about slavery and racism and blaming the past, dwelling on the history of black people here in the US, just because it’s history, and then claim the Confederate flag should be abolished because of its OWN history.

Pick one.

You may disagree with my flag analogy; hell, maybe I even disagree with that convoluted paragraph, but my point stands.

And I’m done apologizing for being white. I’m done tiptoeing around the subject, or any subject, hoping not to offend someone. I love my friends, all races, but my friends and I can discuss things, brainstorm, work out our issues.

I’m equally certain that, one on one, most people can do that too. But not if we keep listening to the war-mongers, those who wish to divide and conquer.

 

Work Wednesday—The Remodel


We’ve been working more on the house remodel than anything else lately, especially due to the heat. Every day, of course, there are chores like composting and burning trash, weeding and checking over the garden, and tracking the progress on the old house.

Which, I’m thrilled to say, now resembles a one-story A-frame. They pushed it over Monday afternoon, and by next week, it should all have disappeared! Fencing and a second gate will go up across the front to fill in the gaps.

IMG_5767[1]

So, the remodel. Well, I’m not going to move in and THEN try to re-do everything, so we’re removing plywood (??) and replacing almost all of it with drywall. I say “almost,” because the front of the living room and soon-to-be office are also plywood, with lots of windows. What a pain. Besides, those pieces don’t look as bad as the rest of it did. I can live with it.

IMG_5726[1]

Then there’s the closet. The seller didn’t like walls, apparently, but when he built them, he went all-out. The three closet walls—it’s built into the center, load-bearing wall—are all super-reinforced. Since it’s just on one side (keep in mind that the entire house is 30X30), we finally decided it must be a safe room, for tornados and such. Down it comes. Husband has been moving electric, taking out some outlets and moving switches.

IMG_5731[1]

Next week, we’ll be adding some half-walls to divide things up a bit. Also, I need more wall space. Interesting how so much furniture is designed to be set against a wall.

After that, we’ll de-popcorn the ceiling, replace 2-3 of the fans, and start painting. Then we’ll have just the kitchen to work on: adding a double wall oven and extra cabinets and counters, removing the dishwasher, and replacing the existing counters.

Move-in date is still ten and a half months away, but—and this is a big but—we’re rapidly closing in on the start of school, which means we can only come down on weekends, for two days at a time. So that gives us a total of about three months.

However, I’m happy to report that the garage is almost empty! All the storable stuff, kids’ things and memorabilia, etc., has been moved. Next up, getting rid of this giant garage sale pile—coming in October. I think. I hate doing these, but we’ll see. Maybe I’ll just call a charity and have them pick up the whole lot!