I read this article one day last week and thought about all of the times I unconsciously stepped to the side to allow a white man to pass. I thought about the times when a door wasn’t held open for me or the time elevator doors were closed in my face. I remember feeling the sting of exclusion and allowing it to pass.
The other day I was in Whole Foods walking towards the bulk food section when a very tall, older white man started towards me. I immediately thought about your article and I did not step out of his way. He stepped around me and “guffawed” (is that word? LOL… or a sound?), looked back at me as I made my way down the columns of dried beans, fruits and spices. I saw him look at me with annoyance as I filled my bag with brown flax seed. When I was done I left the aisle in the opposite direction wondering if he would’ve had the same reaction if I were a woman of another race.
