The moment I crossed into the threshold
of the shop I immediately felt different. It was a very nice, quiet, little
shop with your stereotypical coffee shop artistic touches. I have spent many
hours in shops very similar to it back in the states, but something felt very
different here. As soon as I made my way into the back patio area I begin to
understand why it felt so different. As I took my seat at the table I realized
I was completely surrounded by white people. It was the first time since
arriving that I found myself surrounded by a completely white population.
As I made my way to my table and finally
sat down, I could feel eyes piercing me like tiny little arrows. Now I realize
some of the things I was feeling were probably somewhat things I was projecting
upon myself. But non the less I felt incredibly out of place, and the company
of white South African's looks I was receiving told me I was out of place.
For the first time in my life I
identified with and placed my identify with a racial group that wasn't white,
and from the looks of it, they didn't want to identify with me either. The
privilege they outwardly displayed and almost waved around like a flag of
victory for all to see was truly disheartening and somewhat sickening to
honest. It was at this moment that I begin to realize just how much the people
of Lekubu have become my family and my home. They are people I care desperately
about, people I trust, and people I love.
Peace
*written October 26th
maybe they were looking at you because you are clearly american. i think it is a lot to assume privilege and conceit just from a quick glance.
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