I appreciate the gesture, but...

So, I just have to comment on the events of this morning on my way to work.

As most of you know, I work at a coffee shop and I don't have a car (but I'm working on it, BELIEVE ME), so I walk to work. Look, I love my ipod. I have affectionately named it Musicology: Reborn after the first ipod that got full. Anyway, I was walking to work and listening to a podcast called Broadway Bullet (go figure!). When I have my earbuds in, I hate getting interrupted. Back to my peaceful suburban stroll: I am enjoying the sights of green grass and blue sky and the sounds of conversation on my ipod when a navy blue Honda pulls up to the curb and stops. I barely glance through my Burberry sunglasses and see the window rolled down. I thought it was some black guy trying to holler at me (it wouldn't be the first time that it's happened to me in Irvine, of all places) and in fact it was a black woman. She leaned over the console and asked where I was heading. I politely told her that I was just heading up the street and she asked if I was sure and I politely said again (in my proper white-girl voice) that I was sure. She said okay and drove off.

I was shocked that this black woman would drive by and ask me this. I didn't even know her. I don't know what it is about black people living in suburbs. For example, anytime I go to Albertson's and there's a black person in there at the same time, they seem to break their neck to come around the store and say hi. I sometimes feel like they follow me. I know that it's a mutual connection that they feel but they don't always have to feel like they need to go out of their way to say hi. I just want to say, where were all the black people when I was growing up? Now that I am an adult, I have been seeing more and more black people in Irvine. I'm not complaining by any means, but it's just that it's awkward when all you know are the other races around you.

It's funny that I complained about there not being any black people around when I was younger. And at that time, I didn't have any black friends because I felt like I connected with everyone else who was familiar with my upbringing. Now that I am in college, I have many more friends of color than I ever thought I would (no offense to the ones I have, but you just have to understand where I'm coming from). The only black people I ever knew growing up was my family. They don't count. I had a few black friends but the ones I had met judged me from so far away that I felt uncomfortable and just belittled for being a suburbanite. One time, I went to my cousin's graduation barbecue and I was introduced to some of her closest friends. One girl shook my hand and said these exact words: You're not from around here, are you? I mean, am I that obvious? Do I stick out like a sore thumb? I'm black just like all the other black people in the world. Yes, I carry myself in a different manner but it's not just where I was brought up but also who brought me up. It's my mother's doing.

Basically what I am trying to say is that I appreciate the gesture that my "people" make toward me, but it gets in the way of truly appreciating you for what you are. To my college "people", thank you for transforming my views. Before college, I thought that all black people would walk by me and immediately see the word "suburbanite" or "Irvine-ite" tattooed across my forehead and assume the worst of me. I am not innocent in thinking that black people would look at me the wrong way and want to take me out (that's my suburban-upbringing). I am thankful that God has put such wonderful people in my life to help me see that I was ignorant in my own way of thinking. I love my "people" and will continue to cherish the friendships they bring me each and every day.

Much love, peace and happiness!
DEUCES!