When did politeness become intimidation?

when a Black person is polite.

Dude. I thought you were joking about the door-holding. Lordy.

I appear to be choosing my City Treasurer based on the candidates' favorite books. Masters of Rome vs the Bible.

I have no idea what Masters of Rome is, but the title makes it sound kinda scary. Why the hell do people have to list their favorite book?! I mean, I can't pick just one, and also it starts to get weird, when you're picking a book to pander vs an actual favorite. Like, Miss America style. (I think in general I might have to go with "A Brother's Price" by Wen Spencer. It's a romance, fantasy, adventure, and feminism, all rolled into one! Hits all my faves!)

Dude. I thought you were joking about the door-holding. Lordy.

I'm sorry I wasn't.

Anyway, when white people complain about the Black Panthers being at polling places, I assume this is where that came from.

I high-fived the black guy who held the door for me this morning. He told me "Yeah District 5! Go vote for Obama!" (And then the woman next to him said "Don't tell her who to vote for!" So I didn't feel pressured.)

I do love my neighborhood.

Those, by themselves, are not sufficient differences to cause this huge divide.

They are if you belong to any of the marginalized groups being marginalized by their politics.

Damn, I love my neighborhood. I was one of only 2 or 3 white voters at my polling place.

I was the only white person voting when I went (which was a week ago Sunday). And I wasn't intimidated at all.

Dude. I thought you were joking about the door-holding. Lordy.

I thought he was too. That's sad.

I hate that. I really do. I make it a point to nod and smile (not nervously, clutching my White Woman's Purse) at black men (unless they give off a serious skeeve vibe, which, I note, NOT RESTRICTED TO BLACK MEN, DUH!) and it's not from white liberal guilt; it's I'm like fuck this paradigm of thr Scary Black Man, and I'm gonna jack with it, and I hope this makes up a little for every jackhole who's given you the stankeye, locked their doors, called the cops ("There's a BLACK MAN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OMFG!") or crossed the street becaue Black Men Must Be Violent.

Fuck that shit. I mean, I was raised to be polite to all people, and I'm a smiler and a nod-politely-er, but especially having worked with so many young black (and Hispanic) men, I'm just like, ARRRRRGHHH.

this is why Black men are far more likely to be stop and searched, pulled over while driving, arrested, etc.

Driving/Walking While Black/Hispanic.

Yeah, I heard horror stories from my kids all the time. And it makes me want to stab a bitch.