The Marta Rail System in Atlanta transports many people to and from work, and everywhere else, every single day. Most people are Black unless there is a Braves, Falcons, Hawks games or a concert. During those events people who normally do not ride the train get on board.
There was a White family with a mother, father,and 2 daughters. The mother and daughters were sitting in the seats while the father remained standing. I will tell you first hand what I witnessed from the father’s behavior.
They boarded the South Airport train at Sandy Springs Station. The train proceeded to Dunwoody. The doors opened and Black Men boarded the train. The Black Men came on the train, sat down, listened to their headphones, and waited for the doors to shut. The White father turned red, buffed up, studied his wife and daughters, nervously looked around, and waited for the doors to shut. After the doors shut he then put on a defense face as he continued to look around.
While the doors were shut the White father mentally studied each Black Male on the train to decide who might be looking at his wife and daughters. After he determined that those particular Black Men in that cart were no threat the red face stopped. The train stopped at Medical Center. The whole scene started again with this father, the red face, and buffing up.
This scenario kept up each time the doors opened and this happened all the way to 5 Points Station . At Five Points he saw more white people and completely chilled out. He exited the train happy-go-lucky as if he’d enjoyed his train ride. Other passengers that stayed on board talking about him after he left. We felt sorry for him and came to the conclusion that he probably didn’t even know he was that noticeable with his fear.
Why was this father acting this way? Is he under a belief system that all Black Males want his wife and daughters? Was he under a belief system that all Black Males attack white people? Is he living a stereo type where all Black Males want to rob and steal on public transportation? Or did he feel he and his family were going to be a target because they are white and outnumbered on a public transportation system? We do not know what was going on in his mind but one thing is clear. He was ready to fight and defend each the doors opened. He never said a word but actions speak louder than words.
Thanks to the media, rap music, and the negative portrayal of the angry black man on television people like this father have a skewed view of Black Men and Women. There are white people who do not, and have not, met any black person and rely solely on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coultier, and Fox News to give a daily review of what black people did today.
The information they are receiving is incorrect and inadequate and chances are they don’t know they are being deceived. Based on the White father’s reality was his actions, station after station, justified? For his reality maybe so. He doesn’t know anything different because he’s not been exposed. In real, reality, it was out of scope and came across as odd.
So how do we fix this inaccurate view and flawed belief system for white people, like this father, who honestly do not have a clue? What is he teaching his daughters?
QuannaJace 