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Friday
Feb152008
One of those silly conversations
February 15, 2008
We are at the post office, applying for passports for our kids, which requires both of us and all the kids to be there. It's a happy family outing in a Federal Building in the Capitol, where the security guard, who is a senior citizen, tells us he is heading to Hawaii on Monday.
Just a little background for you.
While we singlehandedly cause the line to stretch about a mile, we lounge around with our elbows on the counter, trying to keep the kids from wrestling, letting YaYa know that fifteen kisses is probably enough for Kid A to handle (she always gets very affectionate when we are out together- early signs of PDAs), joking with the post lady about how much money this is costing us. "My favorite thing!" I say. "I love spending hundreds of dollars on paper!"
Then I notice the stamps for February poster. "Hey Chin," I ask in a lowered voice. "Is that guy black?" He looks where I'm looking, at the Black Heritage stamp.
"Well, remember, back in those days it was all about 'passing'. He looks like he's passing."
I'm not so sure. "Yes, but... I don't know." This man seems to be doing a lot more than passing to me. He looks white down to his large mustache and the part in his hair.
"Well, I don't have my glasses on," Chinua tells me.
"Here, use mine." He takes them.
"Oh no. That dude is not black." The (black) post lady overhears him and laughs. "I know," she says. "I've had other customers asking me about that."
"Do you know who he is?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"I have no idea."
Chinua and I finish up and walk away with our miniature entourage. And got sillier and sillier.
"For Black History Month, we've decide to feature white people!"
"Due to the unnecessary controversy surrounding black people, we've decided to have white people featured for Black History Month!"
"In the spirit of non-discrimination, we're going stop honoring Black People for Black History month! Now all races will be represented!"
"It will be National Everybody Month!"
After doing a little, you know, what's that called... RESEARCH, I realized that Charles W. Chesnutt is indeed PASSING. Go and read his biography, it's really interesting, and reveals more again about how strange and complex the racial undertones of the day were. And I really mean no disrespect to this man, who seems to have spent his life bringing awareness to black issues and decided not to live as a white man, passing or no passing.
Just a little background for you.
While we singlehandedly cause the line to stretch about a mile, we lounge around with our elbows on the counter, trying to keep the kids from wrestling, letting YaYa know that fifteen kisses is probably enough for Kid A to handle (she always gets very affectionate when we are out together- early signs of PDAs), joking with the post lady about how much money this is costing us. "My favorite thing!" I say. "I love spending hundreds of dollars on paper!"
Then I notice the stamps for February poster. "Hey Chin," I ask in a lowered voice. "Is that guy black?" He looks where I'm looking, at the Black Heritage stamp.
"Well, remember, back in those days it was all about 'passing'. He looks like he's passing."
I'm not so sure. "Yes, but... I don't know." This man seems to be doing a lot more than passing to me. He looks white down to his large mustache and the part in his hair.
"Well, I don't have my glasses on," Chinua tells me.
"Here, use mine." He takes them.
"Oh no. That dude is not black." The (black) post lady overhears him and laughs. "I know," she says. "I've had other customers asking me about that."
"Do you know who he is?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"I have no idea."
Chinua and I finish up and walk away with our miniature entourage. And got sillier and sillier.
"For Black History Month, we've decide to feature white people!"
"Due to the unnecessary controversy surrounding black people, we've decided to have white people featured for Black History Month!"
"In the spirit of non-discrimination, we're going stop honoring Black People for Black History month! Now all races will be represented!"
"It will be National Everybody Month!"
After doing a little, you know, what's that called... RESEARCH, I realized that Charles W. Chesnutt is indeed PASSING. Go and read his biography, it's really interesting, and reveals more again about how strange and complex the racial undertones of the day were. And I really mean no disrespect to this man, who seems to have spent his life bringing awareness to black issues and decided not to live as a white man, passing or no passing.
Reader Comments (7)
I just laughed out loud.
We are doing the whole passport thing on Tuesday. I will have to look for the picture.
i always seem to learn something when reading your blog, very interesting!
This was interesting. I checked out the links and learned a lot and he really does look white.
too funny.
thanks for the links...i most certainly learned something today!
Wow, how interesting!
I've read Philip Roth's The Human Stain and since then always wondered whether the theme of the book was realistic... (but then again, I am not American nor live in the US)
Now I know it is and have learned a lot from the links!
Thanks!
Marta from Lisbon
man oh man...that is a funny blog. you are a funny woman. i love your writing so much!