It was a perfect Saturday. Almost too perfect. This particular Saturday would be like no other. For one, I clocked in at my 9-5 for a few hours then headed to the beach after. There was finally a break in the weather here in LA and I was determined to get a head start on my summer glow while reading “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. My friend tried to have me hop down on her date but I told her to catch up with me at the beach with our friends.
Once there, I sat in solitude for a while. As the sun beamed down, I reflected on life and how far I had come. I was grateful and excited for what had yet to come. Slowly but surely, I started to see things I imagined, word up to Solange.
I would say this particular day at the beach was about fellowship. We spoke heavy about growth, healing and moving forward while setting boundaries. As the sun began to set, we decided that we would end this day with a burger.
As we walked down the street to our vehicles after our meal, I saw a car pulling into a parking spot but the female driver was kind of looking crazy at my friend and I. We kept walking but as soon as they parked, the man gets out of the vehicle and said, “Monkeys,” in a heavy Armenian accent.
My friend and I both stopped dead in our tracks and looked at each other. Now, I honestly wasn’t sure if he was talking to us or kid in the backseat but the plural usage let me know he was speaking to us. In that split second, so many images popped into my mind. Prada and Gucci’s use of Sambo. My ancestors hanging from trees. Emmit Till. Just this week, two ladies were interrogated by police after being verbally assaulted by neighbor. That incident ended with one of the police officers using excessive force on one of the victims.
What was even more bizarre about this situation, we literally were having a conversation over dinner about racism, fetishization of black men in other cultures. Black men not protecting black women. Then we walked right into this.
As we did a double take at him, he dropped his head as if he was now a coward and embarrassed of his actions. While my friend was visibly upset and said, “Man today was just perfect then this happens.” I informed her that today was still a great day. The enemy’s purpose is to always steal your joy. We walked away.
When I retold what happened to a few people, they were shocked that I didn’t retaliate with a verbal attack or with violence. It was not worth it. I was proud to stand tall in who I’ve work so hard to become. I wouldn’t dare allow anyone to take me out of character and strip me of my peace. That scenario could’ve ended bad if either one of us reacted.
Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we go high,” and it felt amazing to do just that.