Another huge splash: Racism and Waterslides
I ripped off a piece of chicken and passed it on to the next person, quickly grabbing a forkful of mashed potatoes before those disappeared, and laughing heartily at the funny remarks that are always being made. We sat in the bus and filled our stomachs in preparation for a fun Independence day swimming at the pool park in Higuey, an eagerly anticipated church fundraising event. Upon arrival, I could see a tall yellow structure puncturing the clear blue sky, and my heart started beating a little quicker. "No one told me there would be waterslides!!" Kristen exclaimed. Suddenly the day got a lot more interesting.
Over-the-top excitement buzzed through the air as we waited in line, bodies crammed so closely together that we were as cozy as the sardines Kristen and I eat with our rice and beans. One couldn't help but be caught up in the enthusiasm of it all, the shouting, cheering, and non-stop smiling. I was still a ways off from the front, trying to not get trampled the line when I was very suddenly grabbed by the wrist and pulled up to the top. It was the gatekeeper lady who gave permission for each person to go on the slide. Perplexed, I followed her instructions and mounted the next step of stairs that led to the slide. I didn't have much time to think about why that had just happened because now I am facing the gigantic swooshing slide and it was time for me to go. Not having the time to think things over was probably for the best, because as I slid faster and faster I discovered I was absolutely terrified, then about halfway down I realized, "Hey, you're going to get to the bottom of this and you're not going to die," so up went my hands, my fear turned to sheer joy, and SPLASH, I was in the water and ready to go a second time.
So now I'm in line a second time, shivering despite the hot sun and pretending it's with the delightful suspension of awaiting the waterslide. Kristen is right in front of me and ahead of us are about 10 other people. The weird occurrence happens yet again, our arms are grabbed and we're pulled up in front.
We protest.
"Porque!?" we shout above the commotion. But no one needs to tell us this time, it's pretty obvious. We look at each other and exchange two words: "We're white."
We tend to forget being white fairly often, especially that one time that we didn't put on sunscreen and turned red because, "Oops, we forgot we're white." The rare times we see a white person in the store, we look at each other and say, "Hey! A white person!" usually peering at them as if they're some strange creature and totally oblivious to the fact that someone a few aisles over is probably staring at us through soup cans as well and saying, "Look at that white American."
My enjoyment of waiting in line for the waterslide was quite diminished when I realized it was thanks to a discriminatory process that pushed me in front of my dear brothers and sisters and swooshed me down the slide-of-terror 10 people sooner.
I feel very comfortable here, being amongst all these shades of brown and chocolate hues, my skin being the color of vanilla frosting rarely crosses my mind. Yet that experience jarred me to recall the fallen world we live in. The world where my Haitian friend gets his backpack checked at security but I go straight through with mine, where you're considered richer simply because you've got lighter skin, where you go down the waterslide sooner because you can get sunburned easily. The ludicrousness of it will never cease to flabbergast me.
Yet I will not let my incredulity of it keep me from understanding that it is a reality, one of many awful realities resulting from our sin. It also points me to greater perspective, an eternal mindset that eagerly awaits the arrival of the One who will unite us, who will recompense the sufferers and reward each one according to his or her's working out of their faith, not according to their skin hue. On that day, the obvious facts of being black or being white will be irrelevant, and all we will see is glory. Clothed in glory, and no more hate, pride, nor injustice.
Perhaps there will even be celestial waterslides where we may sploosh and splash to our heart's content without the dirt and grim of racism marring our joy.
Over-the-top excitement buzzed through the air as we waited in line, bodies crammed so closely together that we were as cozy as the sardines Kristen and I eat with our rice and beans. One couldn't help but be caught up in the enthusiasm of it all, the shouting, cheering, and non-stop smiling. I was still a ways off from the front, trying to not get trampled the line when I was very suddenly grabbed by the wrist and pulled up to the top. It was the gatekeeper lady who gave permission for each person to go on the slide. Perplexed, I followed her instructions and mounted the next step of stairs that led to the slide. I didn't have much time to think about why that had just happened because now I am facing the gigantic swooshing slide and it was time for me to go. Not having the time to think things over was probably for the best, because as I slid faster and faster I discovered I was absolutely terrified, then about halfway down I realized, "Hey, you're going to get to the bottom of this and you're not going to die," so up went my hands, my fear turned to sheer joy, and SPLASH, I was in the water and ready to go a second time.
So now I'm in line a second time, shivering despite the hot sun and pretending it's with the delightful suspension of awaiting the waterslide. Kristen is right in front of me and ahead of us are about 10 other people. The weird occurrence happens yet again, our arms are grabbed and we're pulled up in front.
We protest.
"Porque!?" we shout above the commotion. But no one needs to tell us this time, it's pretty obvious. We look at each other and exchange two words: "We're white."
We tend to forget being white fairly often, especially that one time that we didn't put on sunscreen and turned red because, "Oops, we forgot we're white." The rare times we see a white person in the store, we look at each other and say, "Hey! A white person!" usually peering at them as if they're some strange creature and totally oblivious to the fact that someone a few aisles over is probably staring at us through soup cans as well and saying, "Look at that white American."
My enjoyment of waiting in line for the waterslide was quite diminished when I realized it was thanks to a discriminatory process that pushed me in front of my dear brothers and sisters and swooshed me down the slide-of-terror 10 people sooner.
I feel very comfortable here, being amongst all these shades of brown and chocolate hues, my skin being the color of vanilla frosting rarely crosses my mind. Yet that experience jarred me to recall the fallen world we live in. The world where my Haitian friend gets his backpack checked at security but I go straight through with mine, where you're considered richer simply because you've got lighter skin, where you go down the waterslide sooner because you can get sunburned easily. The ludicrousness of it will never cease to flabbergast me.
Yet I will not let my incredulity of it keep me from understanding that it is a reality, one of many awful realities resulting from our sin. It also points me to greater perspective, an eternal mindset that eagerly awaits the arrival of the One who will unite us, who will recompense the sufferers and reward each one according to his or her's working out of their faith, not according to their skin hue. On that day, the obvious facts of being black or being white will be irrelevant, and all we will see is glory. Clothed in glory, and no more hate, pride, nor injustice.
Perhaps there will even be celestial waterslides where we may sploosh and splash to our heart's content without the dirt and grim of racism marring our joy.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGclub 69 Online casinos on mobile phones
ReplyDeleteบาคาร่า It is a site to play the original gambling internet network that is very popular with many of us in our 4.0 era for the reason that it is a new way to meet the right point. Especially the beginner gambler who is not skilled. And how to make easy bets. Just have a mobile phone in hand, it is a smooth way to study the ball to understand and gamble suddenly.
And another important thing is to make money from. The original betting system Internet. Gclub 69 is a risk to the Internet has led to a new Internet betting services continue to increase. While professional gamblers are more likely to choose to use the risky web instead of betting on the table, the ball is more. Because playing gambling is free. Read the rest of this entry » Unlike table ball with more restrictions.
Great for anyone who wants to open up a new dimension of monetization. We do not have to wait 24 hours for us to complete the game. Gclub มือถือ