KWIKEKA

An almost-funny thing just happened. I went to a coffee shop to finish some work. There was one empty couch left. I went to sit there and an older white gentleman sitting nearby, (with what I perceived to be disregard), said to me “someone is coming.” Barely any eye contact, no “excuse me”, no “I’m sorry”. I found his riposte cold. Nonetheless, never one to cause a scene, I excused myself and went to a different area. After minutes of the couch being empty, it occurred to me that maybe he just didn’t want to sit near me. Was it because I’m black? Because I’m a woman? Mbese, kwikeka… (**Paranoia Kicked In**)So, I took my things and moved back to the couch. He looked at me. I looked at him. A couple minutes later, a black woman walked in, and the gentleman said, my friend is here. I moved to give her room and I must admit, I felt a sensation of shame.

But can you really blame me? This is the problem with a racist society. You never know whether they are refusing to shake your hand because you are black (i.e. PRESIDENT Kamala Harris’ incident today) OR because they innocently did not see your hand. In fact, many black thinkers like Kémi Séba, (who just announced his bid for Benin’s Presidency…WAWU); actually prone “the back to Africa” movement, because in their eyes, Racism can never be cured!

I have long agreed with this solution but we seem to have ignored a major flaw in the argument: If we successfully divide the world in black and white, what will become of people of mixed race? Sending telepathy-apologies to the stranger in the coffee shop for my presupposition.