Why Are So Many People Compelled to Display Their Racism in Public?

Doesn’t matter where, or who might be listening, does it?

The other day I found myself scouring the aisles at the local pharmacy trying to secure yet another “optometrist prescribed” remedy for my recently developed stye. This latest seek-and-destroy mission was a last-ditch effort as the alternative would be at the end of a scalpel with very few tears of joy.

Having been to this pharmacy on many occasions I was, surprisingly, having trouble locating the eye care section, but what I did come across would dominate my thoughts for the rest of the day.

After a few perimeter runs, I rounded the end cap near the prescription pickup window only to be confronted with the pimple remover and hemorrhoid creams. I’m not sure why these items should actually be together in the same section, but it made for a good visual. I was, however, one aisle over from the prescription pickup line where seconds earlier I had passed an elderly gentleman holding court with a young woman who seemed to be desperately trying to keep her attention toward her turn at the counter.

I spy with my irritated eye

Though the eye care section was relegated to a darkened corner of the store, in the bowels where the less than frequented healthcare remedies lived, I was close enough to overhear the conversation between the two customers waiting in line. I didn’t immediately take note as I don’t make it a habit to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations, but the tone of this exchange kept me intrigued.

The exchange between these two people began typically enough — discussing the pain of waiting in line, and the current medical condition of the older man. Though I did not hear what prompted the young woman to explain why she traveled the world for her job and list the countries she visited, I did hear the older man’s quick, rather excited response and retort to her professional resume.

With a dismissive tone, and seemingly more concerned about getting his own point across, the grizzled man held nothing back, even in this public setting.

It was clear he had no misgivings about his thoughts concerning the pandemic and more specifically, where he thought it originated. Now, I’m guessing you know where I’m going with this, and you’re probably correct. However, when you come face to face with such ugliness, well aisle to aisle that is, it suddenly becomes more real compared to what you see online or in the news. Perhaps a result of not getting out that much these days but like you, I have heard, read about, and seen much of the unfiltered hatred that consumes our lives every day in this country. Man, it’s rough out there.

Before he launched into his diatribe about the problems we as a country face, he first responded to the woman’s occupational travel. “You know this came from China? Yea, it started over there.” “They’re savages over there.” “They kill each other.” “They’re all savages.” “They did this to us.”

I stood there frozen amongst the ointments and rubs, as it’s been a while since I was privy to such hatred flying so freely, and I’m Black so, you know…

Did I just hear that? Yea, this is happening, I thought.

Witnessing such a display of hate, I know is nothing new; especially in a country that has, for the past half-decade, seen a dramatic increase in hate toward minorities. But c’mon, so brazen as this. Unfortunately, there are many in America who feel this way, even while waiting in line for ball medication.

What struck me was how unabashed this fossil was with his racism — how loud he was too. He did not seem to care who heard him or who might take issue with his hate-filled rhetoric. But I guess if this is who you are, you don’t know its hate. He certainly wasn’t concerned if the stranger he was barking at might be offended. As it turns out, the response from the woman was expected as she tried to avoid an uncomfortable situation.

Clearly in a difficult position and cautious about poking the bear, I heard her say, “Hmmm, yea, I don’t know about that. It’s tough out there for all of us.” Not that I expected her to begin her counterattack and poke holes in his archaic exposition on world affairs and cultural respect, but it was obvious she wanted to exit the conversation and just let the curmudgeon and his racism have the floor.

At one point the woman did try to divert his attention elsewhere, but by this time he was all-in and in full-on racist mode. With his rather heavy accent now getting louder, “gramps” launched into another anti-east tirade. Finally, the woman spoke up, probably in an effort to distract him once again: “I’m sensing a German accent. Are you from Germany?” The man, honored and a bit boastful, giddily exclaimed; “Yes, I am. Germany is the best place with the best people, not like those savages in China.”

There is no young hate or old hate. There is just hate. Full stop!

While this fellow so proudly praised his lineage, he conveniently omitted Germany’s ugly past and the negative impact it had on the world from his proclamation. It was clear this relic missed a few classes on the history of his country and by all accounts slept through the discussions of World War II. His romanticized vision of Germany was not sustainable in this discussion, yet he used it to partition his thoughts about other cultures.

I did not hear the entire exchange as I had had enough and was not willing to volunteer any additional audible support. It was time to “peace out” and take my chances with the scalpel. I left slightly traumatized not because I was unable to find my eye care but because I was reminded, yet again, how racist people can be and how willing they are to share this with strangers.

Over the years when confronted with someone of an older generation that so effortlessly expresses racist beliefs, often there is someone right there who will come to their defense and offer an excuse… “That’s just the way they are.” “They don’t know any better.” “They are from an older generation.”

Really?

This is no excuse and should not be viewed as anything other than what it is — another display of hate. There is no young hate or old hate. There is just hate. Full stop!

Remember the past, change the present

Part of the larger problem we face in America is excusing the way society currently works and expecting those with suspect behaviors to die off so we can finally rid ourselves of this disease that is racism. This is fantasy and, unfortunately, dangerous as it allows for the continued expression of hate to go unchecked. The problem goes much deeper than those who practice this. Racism is systemic and has woven itself into the very tapestry of our nation.

Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part. — John Lewis

I will not accept the excuse that such an outpouring of inappropriate diarrhea of the mouth is generational. This is a stale argument used to justify an older mindset and yet is just as demeaning and disgusting as a fresh pot of racist ideology. To excuse the blatant hatred many folks of advanced years possess is beyond a slap in the face to the current generation, fighting desperately to dismantle systemic racism and the oppression marginalized communities face on a daily basis.

The feeling of empowerment some with extreme racist views harbor is mind-blowing. Allowing this behavior to crystallize and express itself despite being in front of an audience can be rooted in a need to gain support or perhaps even absolution. This has always baffled me.

I won’t leave the house with only one sock on let alone expose the public to a healthy dose of inappropriate microaggressions.

How people can so easily cherry-pick how they want to view history in an effort to justify their viewpoint is beyond logical thinking. For some, having an audience for which they can engage in a monolog rife with objectionable subject matter might be subconscious, but in the end, it just shows how an inner prejudice can be unfettered.

How many of you remember being told by your mother: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Clearly, this guy pissed off his mother that day and got sent to his room without the benefit of her pearls of wisdom. Or maybe she in fact lit the fuse to his lifetime of racism.

Thank you for reading!