Integrating White Spaces, One Room at a Time

Sometimes an answer is so clear, it is as if it were whispered into your ear. “I integrate white spaces, one room at a time.” It rang true. Two years ago, I’d just moved to Boston, settling into retirement. I knew no one here. I was inundated with questions, what brought you here, what do you do, how do you like it here. I had no quick or clever responses yet people remembered me and I came to realize of course they do, I am the lone black face in the room. The Massachusetts Historical society, the Boston Athenaeum, yoga class, museums, performances, restaurants. A lesser person would have had a breakdown or maybe I did.

Pause for a moment, really get into my headspace and reflect when was the last time you were surrounded by people who look like you? I am about 1 in 15; every couple of weeks I end up at an event where there are multiple black faces in attendance. The first time I attended A Beautiful Resistance Live at the Boston Museum of Science two years ago, I experienced joy. To start, I was surrounded by people who look like me. The creator and host, Jeneé Osterheldt, started by saying, I live in Boston, but, I’m from Virginia. I bounced in my seat, with the thought, me too, me too. Those seated next to me may have thought I had a seizure. At the end of each interview, she asked her guest “What makes your life a beautiful resistance?” There is was, “My beautiful resistance is, I integrate white spaces one room at a time.”

I was born unequal under the law in the late 1950’s. It wasn’t until the civil rights act of 1964¹ I was lawfully equal but still under a system that sought to deny that equality. Go ahead, get it out, that was the 50’s and the laws changed in the 60’s and now we’re more than 60 years out! There in is the concern. To say “that was the past” negates reality and the foundation built. We speak with disdain of the time when it was not a common practice for doctors to wash their hands between patients or prior to surgery. This started to change around the time of the civil war and here’s my point. Doctors and patients today don’t say, well it wasn’t that bad. The sentiments are that is before we knew better. There are no groups advocating for not washing hands today. “That was the past,” carries no substance without something like, that was the shameful past, those are practices that have not aged well, etc. Basically, rather than an excuse, an acknowledgment.

I can go a couple of weeks as the only black face, the train for a day trip to New York, Dr Fauci at a lecture series, historical tours in Boston, a yoga class. I’m accustomed to it. In a recent conversation, I mentioned I have a copy of my birth certificate and my passport in my wallet over coffee with friends. There was a confused look from one who asked why? I responded, “you’re a Greek immigrant, aren’t you a little concerned about ICE?” “Of course not,” she said slightly indignant, “I am a citizen of this country.”

My response, “…and that is the definition of white privilege. It does not occur to you that any thing going on involving black and brown people can happen to you. Look, no judgement. I know white privilege sounds like something given to you, an advantage, but, it really is the peace of mind you have where you never think it can be you, versus me, who can name names of 4 generations here and records showing back to 1700s am walking mourned with papers.” Harm is done to say those practices were over a half century ago because it is part of our foundation. Isabel Wilkerson had a good analogy – it’s like living in a house that has fallen into disrepair, you weren’t responsible for it, but you’re living in the out now.

Here’s an example, tips. Tipping was a practiced used after the Civil War to continue exploiting the formerly enslaved by paying them no wages or low wages. Now, low wage workers are suppose to make a living wage by earning tips. I’m thrown off every time I’m in Europe where tipping is not a popular concept.

I’m the anomaly, It’s 50 years later and a one of my college peers now realizes I was lone black face with them and maybe it was little rough, I have to think 50 years from now, there will be a few people who look back and remember, there was just one black girl off to the side in class; it’s different now. Someone has to be one of the first, the start, the seedling. I’m kind of like the Spook Who Sat by the Door (IYKYK.)

---

---

---

---

---

---

¹Key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: 

• Public Accommodations: Prohibited racial segregation in public places such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, and stores.
• Employment: Outlawed discrimination in hiring, promotion, pay, and other aspects of employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Created the EEOC to investigate discrimination claims in the workplace.
• Public Education: Encouraged the integration of schools and other public facilities.
• Voting Rights: Prohibited the unequal application of voter registration requirements, which had been used to disenfranchise minority voters.
• Federally Funded Programs: Prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.