"Times are changing"...are they?

     I'm sure everyone is tired of the race card being played, I being one of them. You all have occasionally seen a person's reaction to a racist comment made against their ethnicity at some point in your lives I'm sure. I'm also quite positive that a good portion of the people being offended were black...oh stereotypes. Now, I'm usually not the first to complain about this sort of thing because I try not to jump to conclusions or wine about something that seems like it'll never change. But what does bother me is when people associate a whole group of people with a negative connotation and add "no offense but.." at the beginning of it when sharing. What...am I included in your ignorant comment? It's happened about three times at work now that I've noticed. Different instances. Most recently...

     As a hostess, I greet a black family and seat them to a booth. They all seemed pleasant and cheery..in comparison to the rude,hungry customers we typically get. They looked very promising to tip well if you had a good attitude accompanied with a smile. A look of disdain spread across the server assigned to that table's face as she groaned and asked another server if he wanted it. The look of disdain came in unison.

    And you know, the funny thing is, I didn't really think too much about it until a white coworker brought it to my attention. "It bothers me how people treat others here, especially the racist comments. That infuriates me. Do you remember the things Mallory said?"  I realized how passive and unaware I sounded as I began to say "I'm used to it" in response. "Well that's a horrible thing to be used to. And you shouldn't be used to it." What a beautiful person.
     It really saddens me how a significant portion of society still views African Americans as a whole to this day. Yeah, times are changing but it amazes me the things that I still see and hear. I hate that almost instantly, I could be associated with crime. I despise the fact that someone might assume that I'm extremely lazy. Before I have a chance to speak, I'm a tad irritated that someone out there is expecting something highly uneducated to come out of my well educated mouth. I admit that there are people out there who need to get their lives straightend out, but that's any race.

     I'm very fascinated with the Holocaust. Ironically I picked up a few books from the library the other day related to it. Right now I'm reading "The Nazi Offcer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust" and it's pretty good thus far. I've read thousands of articles, books, etc. on the Holocaust and the similarities in society never cease to amaze me. Nothing could compare to a genocide in today's world, of course not. It's just fascinating how history really repeats itself....well in this case I really hope not. I can see it now....the black Anne Frank. Nahhhh let's not do that. Haha, just some thoughts in my head.