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In My Feelings, the Charlottesville Edition

I have never felt so small and insignificant in all my life.

We have put a man in the White House who absolutely cares NOTHING about people of color. I'm not stupid enough to be believe that he's the first one. I'm not stupid enough to believe he's the only one. But until now, I never thought I'd see the day where this level of racism would be on display for the world to see.

I am sickened.

The last time I felt quite this bad about racism was back in 1989. I was out with my friends on a Friday night when something jumped off. The cops pulled out their rifles and made the boys lay face down on the ground. It wasn't anything that warranted that type of response, but that's what they did.

I was 18 years old and it scared me to death.

Now, almost 30 years later, we're seeing the same thing...but on a much larger scale. What kind of country are we living in when white supremacists are marching around unmasked? At least the KKK of old had the decency to hide their faces when they did shameful things. Those folks in Charlottesville are reprehensible. Period.

For the White House Occupant -- or the W.H.O. -- to actually endorse that foolishness is even more reprehensible. And to be clear -- anything other than a clear and open rebuke is an endorsement. If you don't believe me, ask David Duke. He was too happy to hear what the W.H.O. had to say, and thanked him for it.

And just when I thought I'd reached the ultimate level of disgust, I got my hat handed to me by a person I consider a friend.

To be clear, I shouldn't have been surprised by her, either. Before the W.H.O., she was a card-carrying member of the Republican Party with a nice crimson neck to match. And in spite of all that, I love her because she at least tries to see things from other points of view.

I was telling her how this whole thing has me shook. Her response? "Well, Jews are upset, too."

Huh?

Shonda Rhimes summed up this situation best when she said, "A broken heart is a broken heart. To measure is cruel."

You can't negate my feelings because you don't share them. As a White woman in America, you'll NEVER feel my pain. And honestly, I don't need you to. What I need you to do is acknowledge my right to feel that way, and keep it moving. If I've chosen to share it with you -- knowing you may not get it -- it's because I deem you an ally and a friend.

And I know you didn't mean any harm, but you definitely took yourself down a notch or two in my eyes. Now I'll have to put you on the shelf where I keep all my White friends. I love you, but I don't necessarily trust you. And I know that you'll pull out your privilege at your convenience.

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