Backyard Conversations
After all, the 'We' includes you, the situations, issues, comical conversations, adventures. You Know!
Have you ever been in one of those awkward conversations with someone of another race where both of you are talking to each other about some topic that has racial undertones but both of you are pretending it is race neutral? It's not big news stuff, but regular everyday conversation.
I have a very good friend that just happens to be black and we just happen to live in an area that is slowly experiencing gentrification. The community is becoming not only ethnically diverse, but economically diverse. We have expensive houses next to boarding houses next to coffee houses next to rat infested burned out houses next to well kept 100 year old houses next to museums next to rentals for college students next to a college. There's never a dull moment in our backyard conversations. My point is, and I do have one, is that it sets up a lot of awkward/unusual backyard & over the fence conversations.
So, here I am, in the midst of an inner-city neighborhood talking to this black man about our neighbors, about chicken bones and trash thrown outside on the ground. It was so full of unspoken racial undertones. On the one hand, I felt almost guilty for talking to him about this, which no doubt reinforces stereotypes he may have about white folks, but on the other hand why can't we talk, neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend, about a problem that affects everyone in the community? It's that damn DuBois duality! How can he implore our neighbors to keep the neighborhood clean, free of trash and food scraps without feeling like he has betrayed some black chicken brotherhood? Or at a neighborhood meeting I mention the very same thing, I am viewed as making a racist comment.
So, I can't talk about it and the black guy can't talk about, so we go about our business and nothing gets done? Yes, we all know that to mention black folks and chicken in the same sentence makes for a sensitive topic but geez! My friend and I actually love fried chicken!! As we live and work together, we are going to have to learn how to navigate these awkward discussions. When will people realize that you can have a race-neutral beef with people that just happens to be of another race? My friend is definitely not an elitist 'Uncle Tom' if he complains, and I am not a racist if I complain. We both just want our neighborhood to be clean and safe. We don't care what color you are, stop throwing your chicken bones, beer cans, and McDonald wrappers on the ground and especially on the ground in my yard!
So, it's time to go pick up the trash in my yard from yet another Saturday night and maybe, just maybe, it will be a trash free day. I can dream can't I? At least my mailbox wasn't used for batting practice!
B&SD
YOUR inner voice
Right here, Right now.
BLOGGING for A Better WORLD!
What do like minded-people have in common?
More Articles...
bullies deal with them 
Hey was a middle schooler and i get called a white bitch so so if anyone is like me tell someone thats something i never did.!
Being a Prince
Not sure how your response relates to "why do you continue engaging, knowing all the long term pain and suffering this is causing"?
Seems to me, this …
how I got my husband back
I want to testify of the good work of prophet Bond, who helped me in
bringing back my ex, i never thought i was going to have him again.
My name is …
Justified because DOMINATION
It took an incident like this to push to the forefront the inhumane treatment of black America...demand attention, stop the killing, stop the racism, stop …
Losing a best friend
Wow! First of all my condolences for your lost! Death is uncontrollable. Some are chosen first and some are chosen at a later or different time! We all …
my testimony on how i got my husband back and kids
Hello everyone i want to share a live testimony on how Dr Osimen was able to bring my husband back to me, myself and my husband were on a serious breakup, …
White girls ignoring white guys and throwing themselves at Mexican American guys 
I'm a white guy in fresno can and all I see is white girls running to Mexican American guys. They refuse to even consider a date with me a good looking …
White women are destroying white men Not rated yet
Women can make or break a man, for behind every successful man is a strong woman. White women today are weak and out to break the white man in the name …
I am a Channel Not rated yet
Hi, I am a chenneller.
I became aware of it in 2011 after a huge loss.
I am mixed but spirit sent me a black channel to teach me what I am.
She is …
Life Not rated yet
Wat is life if all we do is make money for pointless gain look at us were losing everything but we don't care along as we have more than the person next …
Women's Corner Not rated yet
As we prepare for the Christmas (Holiday) Season.. We are out shopping for gifts and preparing special dinner, cooking those delicious cakes.
Let us …
looking for whitewemen that hate whitemen Not rated yet
I love whitewemen that hate their own race I'm a blackman.
A MELANIN FREQUENCY-THE MYSTIC CHANNELER SEKHMET Not rated yet
Greetings and Welcome to my page.
"A MELANIN FREQUENCY-THE MYSTIC CHANNELER SEKHMET"
I am blessed with the gift of Clairaudient and Clairvoyance. …
"PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE" By A.A. AMEN-RA Not rated yet
Sometime late last year in 2015, a subject was brought to the attention of the American public, that it had been decided that they were going to try to …
Beautiful tribute Not rated yet
Dee, you said it so poignantly with such deep feeling. I hope that when my time comes, someone will be so caring of me. May she rest in peace and may …
How prepared are you?re you prepared Not rated yet
The people that are involved in a relationship will some day plan and prepare for their special day with much time,effort, decision making and a whole …
who is making the white women for u Not rated yet
haters here. clearly.
is that a knock-out? Not rated yet
I thought that rose would be dead by now, great job
Thank you for sharing Not rated yet
Our history is so violent and distorted and all we want to know is both sides of the story.
Recognize, confess, know...thanks for sharing
you go girl... Not rated yet
beautiful, somebody is expecting a bountiful harvest, like that huge lobster! Enjoy
Love Leggings Not rated yet
People talk about the shit you do ruining their kids, but you never hear about the things they do ruining yours.
Who's ruining who?
A heart for leggings, …
When you think you escaped Not rated yet
Can't sleep, stress, can't be satisfied and more stress.
A chain, lock, wrench, telephone how can they help you?
One day you come to realize for …
Cosby's infidelity Not rated yet
Cosby has long been dogged by accusations of infidelity.
As Cosby joined the ranks of other famous infidels like Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Willie …
Cosby's response Not rated yet
Bill Cosby will not dignify "decade-old, discredited" claims of sexual abuse with a response, his attorney said Sunday, the first comment from the famed …
Something Better for Something Worse Not rated yet
Is Mr. Cosby a good example of this?
NOTHING like TRN was announced - PURE LIE Not rated yet
It is very strange people spreading BS instead of facts. They were screaming all over the internet that March 17 will be announcement of TRN and prices …
