I live across the street from a synagogue, and there are days when I can’t find anywhere to park—I drive around for 10 whole minutes looking sometimes! It’s ridiculous! I mean, it’s true the synagogue was here first, but sometimes the streets are simply too full. So I write notes, short messages, letting them know to park elsewhere. I put them on cars. And now they are crying ‘hate crime’! Imagine that! I mean, I love Israel just as any true American patriot would! And just last week I bought flowers from a colored boy on the street—he was one of the good ones, such a nice young man. So to say ‘hate crime’ is just ridiculous! I don’t know what those people think, but somehow I’d like to reclaim my street!
Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories inspired by a photo that Rochelle Wisoff Fields posts every week. This week’s photo courtesy of Roger Bultot.
Mostly Words 
Excellent Rachel, and a brave piece. Unfortunately this way of thinking exists far too much around the world today. Well done.
Thank you, Iain! And yes, it does exist far too much!
-Rachel
When you live in a place whose foundation is Us vs. Them, I really don’t see how this can be avoided. It’s time to follow a new path of thinking that tears down the walls of the cult of duality. If we can do that, we may survive as a species.
Your’re so right, Jade!!
Thank you,
Rachel 🙂
You catch the tone of the woman very well. I’m sure we’ve all heard words like this, alas. It’s an excellent take on the prompt, too.
Thank you, Penny!!
Nice piece, I like where you went with this prompt. Sometimes it’s all how you look at things.
Very true. Thank you, Ted!!
Making excuses… everyone has prejudices to battle, but excuses like that is not the way to do it.
Thank you, Björn!!!
Well observed Rachel
Thank you, Neil!!
Dear Rachel,
This is one brilliant piece…although hard to ‘like’. You captured the voice of quiet racism so well you made my blood boil. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle! I was nervous to post it… it is an impossible story to ‘like.’
-Rachel 🙂
Love it – “one of the good ones”. Hmm. Reminds me of Michael’s attitude in the American remake of “The Office”…
Yes!!! You’re right, Michael did have that attitude… only they made him ‘likable’ (sort of).
Thank you!
-Rachel
Racism carries on beneath the surface in subtle but cruel ways as your thought-provoking piece describes so skillfully.
My story – ‘This way that way!’
Thank you so much, Keith!
A great description of “quiet racism”. I know too many people who “aren’t racist, but….”
I know too many people like that too!!
THank you!
Powerful message, so well-expressed in unconsciously biased terms. The little Black boy was “one of the good ones” says a great deal. It’s sort of like saying,”Well, I’m not prejudiced. One of my best friends is a ___________”–you can fill in the blank.
Exactly!!
Thank you!!
This is such an important piece, the writing in this matter-of-fact tone is especially effective.. Quiet racism… and the line that separates it from ‘just prejudiced’… seems universal and we all, even with the best intentions, are in danger to slip into this trap one way or another. Awareness of one’s prejudice, I think, is a first step towards doing better. And getting to actually know what we judge.
You are so right!
And thank you for such and thoughtful comment!!
-Rachel
You captured this brilliantly. So many say they are not racist then justify all their thoughts like this.
Thank you, Dale!
-Rachel
We live in a mad world…
Thought provoking!
Thank you!!
Finding a parking place in our crowded cities is a problem. Every building should have their designated parking place. preferably in the basement. If this man is simply angry for not finding a place to park it is understandable. But he gave it away when he talked about buying flower from the coloured boy. Nicely captured many layers of thought process.
Thank you very much!
Uncomfortable piece, carefully crafted.
Very impressive.
As Rochelle said… it’s a difficult piece to ‘like’
Thank you!!
-Rachel
Very uncomfortable story but one that needs to be told. As someone rightly pointed out awareness of prejudice is the first step towards wiping away all stains of racism. Very beautifully written and its matter of factness adds to its effectiveness. Superb writing Rachel.
Thank you very much!!
-Rachel
I didn’t click “like” because I couldn’t bring myself to “like” it.
It was a brave piece to write, taking thought and soft touches to depict.
A difficult presentation well done.
Randy
Yeah, it’s not a very likable piece!! And I was really nervous to submit it… I’m overwhelmed by the comments though, this writing group is filled with insightful and intelligent people.
Thank you!!
The voice was pitch perfect.
Thank you, Sandra!!
Quiet racism is a good name for it. Those people consider themselves fully justified. There’s a lot of that around. A good story well written. —- Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne!