Head-Shaking Doesn’t Always Suffice

Lin Ross
3 min readJun 19, 2020

FedEx driver cries on Facebook after racist attack:

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/06/16/fedex-driver-cries-on-facebook-after-racist-attack/24525793/

In complete disbelief, I find I’m sadly shaking my head as that black postal worker speaks of almost being run over, then spat upon, and called a “Nigger!” by some assholian hick.

What year is this?

I want to cry. I want to weep bitter tears because he can hardly even find the right words to speak. I want to rage. I want to wreck up some shit because his most rightful anger is silent.

I want to spit and hiss and hate on someone, anyone who even looks at me with the slightest bit of disdain.

But, instead of crying or raging… I simply shake my head.

What year is this?

Ancestors! I need you! We all need you… NOW! We need your spirit, your forgiveness… your restraint, your patience! We need your legs, your backs, your hearts… and your spines!

I can only begin to imagine how hard it must’ve been to have endured all that they endured: the names designed to reduce…

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Lin Ross

Oft-published poet, novelist, freelance writer, longtime New Yorker, currently based in SC, proudly penning poetry & polishing prose with a profound purpose.