Beckie White
I am white, and from England, and I know my life in the US would have been a lot harder if I had a different color skin. That said, I have definitely felt the ‘fear of difference’ here –
– I have had ‘unpleasant’ experiences at Immigration, despite having all the correct paperwork.
– I learned to drive with a fear of the police, with the worry of being shot if I ‘move the wrong way’ (in England Police are not armed, or weren’t when I lived there 8 years ago), so this is completely new to me.
– I have been fearful that our life here hinges on my Green Card, and whilst I have felt more comfortable than when I just had a Visa, even though I believe that can only be revoked if I go to prison or don’t submit my taxes, I worry about getting into a situation with the Police that could impact us…and I consider myself law-abiding…wow…never written that down before…
– I have also been ridiculed because of my accent, and singled out, in a negative way, because I am not a white American.
And so although I know I have had it easy, I have also experienced the other side, and I know it’s not how it should be, if everyone was treated equally and fairly.
