I witnessed a White neighbor being friendly and kind to Black neighbor, but when that White neighbor interacted with me, they said things about the Black neighbor that were negative. This made me sad, because my White neighbor knows how they should be acting and thinking, but they aren’t doing so with feeling. I wasContinue reading “Neighbors”
Category Archives: Change Needed Story
Let’s actually go there
I was meeting someone for first time and asking about her work in the community. A long time resident came up and started talking about how he knew her. He said that she was one of the only Hispanic leaders in Columbia and she was such an asset. She said graciously I am not oneContinue reading “Let’s actually go there”
Distrust of the Medical System
At work, we have recently implement a COVID vaccine mandate for the team with medical and religious exemptions. This has sparked several conversations with team members, but the most impactful were those with team members of color and their expressed historical and systemic distrust of the medical community. This distrust is preventing them from feelingContinue reading “Distrust of the Medical System”
Redistricting Plan
Howard County recently implemented a new redistricting plan where children from lower income neighborhoods would be bused to schools in higher income neighborhoods (and vice versa). Here are a few of the comments from Howard County residents that resulted: “Blacks destroy school systems and schools,” read one letter to county officials about the busing plan.Continue reading “Redistricting Plan”
Marking Up and Taking Advantage
To Whom This May Concern: I have a bad case of housing discrimination at my apartment. My lease expires on December 19, 2021. I have a medical hardship situation where I need to move out early. I went to my current landlord, and asked for the cost to terminate my lease agreement. I was toldContinue reading “Marking Up and Taking Advantage”
support
The grand opened restaurant owned by asian near my house had to close 3 times because someon wrote asian hate words in the bathroom walls two times with spray paint and put poop all over in the bathroom walls. I heard from my friend to support.
More work needs to be done.
Heard of racial incidents between high schools. It seems so much negative feeling is under the surface.
The foreigner
I experience frequent microaggresions when people listen to my accent when I speak. I can feel right away their change of tone and treat me like I am not as smart as them. This is racism.
Football Games in Howard County
I heard that there was some fighting at a football game between the fans and one of the marching bands. The fans of one team (from Clarksville) were yelling homophobic and racist things at the Marching band of another school (Columbia) The Marching band not only were yelled at, but there was also trash thrownContinue reading “Football Games in Howard County”
Challenging comfort, moderation, and norms
I’m still so discouraged by the level of white entitlement and prioritization of their “comfort” we still see in our community. By my “liberal” white friends who express concern about issues that are served up to them by “moderate” and right-wing media explicitly fear mongering and seeking political advantage with white outrage. These issues areContinue reading “Challenging comfort, moderation, and norms”