Here is a rough idea of the letter I plan to submit today regarding last weeks bus beating of a white female 26 year old in Hampden on bus #27. (which I have taken in the past and made journal entries for)
Wiedenfield =one of the reps. for MTA (I'm not sure which rep. I ll have to find out so I can write a more informed letter to editor)
Dixon=Baltimore City's mayor
Dear Letter to Editor,
The day Kreager was beaten on the #27 bus, I heard this approxiate report on the news: " Kids were jumping in front of seats telling the young woman, "these seats are reserved!" The first things that went through my head was "Kreager must be white, I'm very accustomed to seeing these acts of intimidation on buses and trains. Most likely this is a hate crime."
But most Baltimoreans don't encounter reverse racism in their day to day activities. I encounter it daily and absolutely do not feel safe on Baltimore's buses and trains, or at most stops because I am a minority white. I'm very glad that this incident on the #27 is being investigated as a hate crime.
Dixon and Wiedenfield's public comments that "Baltimore's buses are safe" is incredibly naieve.
"Baltimore, if you have the financial means to own and operate a private vehicle, I highly recommend you stay there!"
Showing posts with label reverse racism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reverse racism. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
"on the bus/dangerous life"
Not every trip by foot or bus is scary, but many are. You just never know. The media hasn't announced it yet, but in my experience here, carless, single, white females are an endangered species!
I needed to be in Hampden today. That means taking the 8 to the 22 bus line. The 8 was fine for the first mile. Then, there's a stop where they pick up the "recovering addicts" Things starting getting real loud and dicey at this point. The next 2 miles seem to take forever.
I get off on 33rd st. proceeding west toward Hampden. I wait about 15 or 20 minutes for the #22. There is an African American man sitting next to me who is 59 (he told me!) with his wife. A 45 year old woman flags down a ride from a stranger. I worry for her. Just in case I note the make, model and color of the car that picked her up. The driver peeled wheels as he sped off with her which made me even more nervous.
The wife of the man next to me softly says: "Talk about risky business." I said, "you're not kidding, I took down the car info. just in case." The 3 of us talked about how dicey things feel at this stop today and how we don't feel safe in Baltimore in general. There is a man digging thru a garbage can, and another man, talking gangsta talk to no one in particular. The man next to me is from N.Y.C. I said: "I hear N.Y.C. is much safer then Baltimore." He said: "You're not kidding." We talked about the need for self defense classes. He said he and his wife are activists and trying to make b-more a better place to live. I said that I'm no longer an activist, because all of my energy is going into survival.
They were waiting on the #3. I was waiting on the #22. Feeling safe and comfortable with the couple I told them that the reason I was using a hand signal to flag down the bus to pick me up is because the drivers "don't always pick up white people." They both laughed in a compassionate, "Oy vey" kind of way. The woman held her hand out to me, I gave it a friendly squeeze and she said: "God Bless" as I boarded the bus.
On the way back from the Rotunda, I walked along the Avenue. Lot's of cool, independent shops. But my ankles and feet hurt very badly so I didn't have the wherewithal to walk the short distance to Hopkins University. So, I waited 1/2 hour for the #22 to take me the 4 blocks. There are no seats. People refuse to move back, even though there is plenty of room in the back. So people are squeezed together like sardines. I can't move an inch.
A woman says to me "Excuse me"
and I ask: "Where would you like me to go?!"
There was not a hint of sarcasm in my question to her. The woman's friend starts yelling at me: "OH, THE BITCH GONNA GET SMAWT!" "MOVE YOUR FAT ASS OUT OF THE WAY BITCH" she instructed her friend to push me out of the way. The girl yelled at me for the next block. Thank God, my stop was so close or I don't know what would have happened. You see, my need to get out of Baltimore feels like life or death.
I needed to be in Hampden today. That means taking the 8 to the 22 bus line. The 8 was fine for the first mile. Then, there's a stop where they pick up the "recovering addicts" Things starting getting real loud and dicey at this point. The next 2 miles seem to take forever.
I get off on 33rd st. proceeding west toward Hampden. I wait about 15 or 20 minutes for the #22. There is an African American man sitting next to me who is 59 (he told me!) with his wife. A 45 year old woman flags down a ride from a stranger. I worry for her. Just in case I note the make, model and color of the car that picked her up. The driver peeled wheels as he sped off with her which made me even more nervous.
The wife of the man next to me softly says: "Talk about risky business." I said, "you're not kidding, I took down the car info. just in case." The 3 of us talked about how dicey things feel at this stop today and how we don't feel safe in Baltimore in general. There is a man digging thru a garbage can, and another man, talking gangsta talk to no one in particular. The man next to me is from N.Y.C. I said: "I hear N.Y.C. is much safer then Baltimore." He said: "You're not kidding." We talked about the need for self defense classes. He said he and his wife are activists and trying to make b-more a better place to live. I said that I'm no longer an activist, because all of my energy is going into survival.
They were waiting on the #3. I was waiting on the #22. Feeling safe and comfortable with the couple I told them that the reason I was using a hand signal to flag down the bus to pick me up is because the drivers "don't always pick up white people." They both laughed in a compassionate, "Oy vey" kind of way. The woman held her hand out to me, I gave it a friendly squeeze and she said: "God Bless" as I boarded the bus.
On the way back from the Rotunda, I walked along the Avenue. Lot's of cool, independent shops. But my ankles and feet hurt very badly so I didn't have the wherewithal to walk the short distance to Hopkins University. So, I waited 1/2 hour for the #22 to take me the 4 blocks. There are no seats. People refuse to move back, even though there is plenty of room in the back. So people are squeezed together like sardines. I can't move an inch.
A woman says to me "Excuse me"
and I ask: "Where would you like me to go?!"
There was not a hint of sarcasm in my question to her. The woman's friend starts yelling at me: "OH, THE BITCH GONNA GET SMAWT!" "MOVE YOUR FAT ASS OUT OF THE WAY BITCH" she instructed her friend to push me out of the way. The girl yelled at me for the next block. Thank God, my stop was so close or I don't know what would have happened. You see, my need to get out of Baltimore feels like life or death.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
"Surviving Baltimore's brutal public transit"
4/24/07
Is it even possible to complete more then one task per day without a car?
It's absolutely grueling to be without a car in Baltimore, regardless of the neighborhood you live in. Yesterday, I needed to get to Hampden, a working class section of Baltimore city. Regretably, this would involve another potentially traumatic round trip on the #8 bus.
I boarded the extremely crowded bus at about 12:15 p.m. I like alot of personal space, but I know it's not an option so I try not to get upset about being pressed against some sweaty stranger's body! On this particular day, immediately upon boarding there is a verbal fight in progress. Admittedly it can be difficult to discern a loud conversation from a fight.
As I attempt to WALK to my seat, the bus jerks forward and I end up FALLING into my seat (inadvertently brushing against the woman next to me) She quickly turns her head to the extreme right as opposed to a more natural position of facing forward. I said: "Pardon me maam for brushing against you."
"Don't you maam me, dis ain't no military!" she replied.
I think it's fair to say that, a rider who is new to Baltimore's bus culture, will likely find it extremely disturbing. But I've been doing this off and on for 13 years, and I know not to take the abuse personally. It can take years of practice to not internalize the cruel way that people treat each other.
A man in a wheelchair in the front of the bus is yelling at a group of people in the back of the bus, they in turn, yell back. Most of the "conversation" is unintelligible to me. The apparent "fight" results in the bus driver loudly reprimanding the man in the wheelchair. She yells: "You will stop that yelling or you can get off at the next stop!" He screams in return..... something to the effect of: "Oh yeah, try to make me!" Meanwhile, between all of the screaming , the man in the wheelchair is undressing every female passenger under 50 with his eyes! He gazes at me for long periods hoping I'll pay attention to him.
"Fights" between driver and rider are common. Yet, despite all of the threats drivers make, they're all pretty much empty. Personally, I think the drivers are afraid of retaliation, therefore don't make good on their threats. I know of many unpublicized knife and gun attacks towards drivers.
A 70 year old woman "high" on heroin (i don't personally know alot about drugs and their effects) gets on the bus with a 40 year old man who also appears to be high on heroin. They appear to have fallen asleep while standing up. Most people on heroin, appear to me to be dozing with their heads usually tipped very low. Meanwhile, the woman who has just sat down on the other side of me says to me: "Tell her that she can sit down" I asked the woman: "Are you giving up your seat?" "She's asleep or high, how am I supposed to get her attention?" She didn't answer me.
"Maam" the woman next to me called out, "would you like to have my seat?" "No." The high woman replied. The woman seated next to me again beckons me to ask the high woman another question. "Ask her where she got her onyx." I didn't. The bus is very hot and the driver yelled: "It already 85 degrees in here!" I believe she was implying that we better not piss her off because she's already hot as hell!
The 5 mile trip feels like 50 miles.....................but as usual I survive it, (if not barely!) then transfer to bus 22. Luckily, my trip on bus 22 ends after about 1 mile. I disembark from the bus with tremendous appreciation for sun, fresh air, personal space and my person still in one piece!
"this town's in shmatters, I'm in tatters!" Mick Jagger croons!"
Is it even possible to complete more then one task per day without a car?
It's absolutely grueling to be without a car in Baltimore, regardless of the neighborhood you live in. Yesterday, I needed to get to Hampden, a working class section of Baltimore city. Regretably, this would involve another potentially traumatic round trip on the #8 bus.
I boarded the extremely crowded bus at about 12:15 p.m. I like alot of personal space, but I know it's not an option so I try not to get upset about being pressed against some sweaty stranger's body! On this particular day, immediately upon boarding there is a verbal fight in progress. Admittedly it can be difficult to discern a loud conversation from a fight.
As I attempt to WALK to my seat, the bus jerks forward and I end up FALLING into my seat (inadvertently brushing against the woman next to me) She quickly turns her head to the extreme right as opposed to a more natural position of facing forward. I said: "Pardon me maam for brushing against you."
"Don't you maam me, dis ain't no military!" she replied.
I think it's fair to say that, a rider who is new to Baltimore's bus culture, will likely find it extremely disturbing. But I've been doing this off and on for 13 years, and I know not to take the abuse personally. It can take years of practice to not internalize the cruel way that people treat each other.
A man in a wheelchair in the front of the bus is yelling at a group of people in the back of the bus, they in turn, yell back. Most of the "conversation" is unintelligible to me. The apparent "fight" results in the bus driver loudly reprimanding the man in the wheelchair. She yells: "You will stop that yelling or you can get off at the next stop!" He screams in return..... something to the effect of: "Oh yeah, try to make me!" Meanwhile, between all of the screaming , the man in the wheelchair is undressing every female passenger under 50 with his eyes! He gazes at me for long periods hoping I'll pay attention to him.
"Fights" between driver and rider are common. Yet, despite all of the threats drivers make, they're all pretty much empty. Personally, I think the drivers are afraid of retaliation, therefore don't make good on their threats. I know of many unpublicized knife and gun attacks towards drivers.
A 70 year old woman "high" on heroin (i don't personally know alot about drugs and their effects) gets on the bus with a 40 year old man who also appears to be high on heroin. They appear to have fallen asleep while standing up. Most people on heroin, appear to me to be dozing with their heads usually tipped very low. Meanwhile, the woman who has just sat down on the other side of me says to me: "Tell her that she can sit down" I asked the woman: "Are you giving up your seat?" "She's asleep or high, how am I supposed to get her attention?" She didn't answer me.
"Maam" the woman next to me called out, "would you like to have my seat?" "No." The high woman replied. The woman seated next to me again beckons me to ask the high woman another question. "Ask her where she got her onyx." I didn't. The bus is very hot and the driver yelled: "It already 85 degrees in here!" I believe she was implying that we better not piss her off because she's already hot as hell!
The 5 mile trip feels like 50 miles.....................but as usual I survive it, (if not barely!) then transfer to bus 22. Luckily, my trip on bus 22 ends after about 1 mile. I disembark from the bus with tremendous appreciation for sun, fresh air, personal space and my person still in one piece!
"this town's in shmatters, I'm in tatters!" Mick Jagger croons!"
Friday, April 13, 2007
"We have a possible 911"
Dear Friends,
My acquaintance from Borders books told me a few months ago, "you couldn't pay me to use Baltimore's public transit again. The most dangerous is the #8 which travels along York Road."
And this young woman with alot of street smarts like me, is the person who influenced me to stop using public transit after dark. This of course means no night life whatsoever. But it's worth it if this is what I have to do to keep myself alive in this murderous city.
Today I only had to ride the #8 bus 2 miles one way, to the public library. In that 2 miles we had one relatively minor incident (pretty common) a man who was standing lost his balance and fell into a young woman on a cell phone. She was angry that he lost his balance but not the least bit concerned for his well being. Well, this my friends is the Baltimore way. And perhaps even, the American way, but Balto. is what I know best.
I was riding a double decker bus with about 50 people on it. Counting the number of passengers on a bus can be hard to assess because you don't want anyone to catch you "looking at them" as that too, will probably make them angry.
In incident # 2 a man who is about 50 years old and 250 pounds falls to the floor face down
. I quickly look around and cannot believe that no one has asked him if he is o.k., or if he needs help getting up. I yell to the driver "We have a possible 9-1-1" I then walk over to the man , ask him if he is o.k. and if he needs help getting up. Still there is complete apathy from the passengers and I'm wondering where I'd find the strength to even pull him off of the floor! He says he's o.k. and doesn't want help getting up. He does get up on his own, and then for the rest of the bus ride he says "damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!"
I hear 2 women making fun of me by repeating the phrase: "possible 911" and then laughing. It is also very common for African American women to ridicule white women mostly because they were born "white"
My acquaintance from Borders books told me a few months ago, "you couldn't pay me to use Baltimore's public transit again. The most dangerous is the #8 which travels along York Road."
And this young woman with alot of street smarts like me, is the person who influenced me to stop using public transit after dark. This of course means no night life whatsoever. But it's worth it if this is what I have to do to keep myself alive in this murderous city.
Today I only had to ride the #8 bus 2 miles one way, to the public library. In that 2 miles we had one relatively minor incident (pretty common) a man who was standing lost his balance and fell into a young woman on a cell phone. She was angry that he lost his balance but not the least bit concerned for his well being. Well, this my friends is the Baltimore way. And perhaps even, the American way, but Balto. is what I know best.
I was riding a double decker bus with about 50 people on it. Counting the number of passengers on a bus can be hard to assess because you don't want anyone to catch you "looking at them" as that too, will probably make them angry.
In incident # 2 a man who is about 50 years old and 250 pounds falls to the floor face down
. I quickly look around and cannot believe that no one has asked him if he is o.k., or if he needs help getting up. I yell to the driver "We have a possible 9-1-1" I then walk over to the man , ask him if he is o.k. and if he needs help getting up. Still there is complete apathy from the passengers and I'm wondering where I'd find the strength to even pull him off of the floor! He says he's o.k. and doesn't want help getting up. He does get up on his own, and then for the rest of the bus ride he says "damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!"
I hear 2 women making fun of me by repeating the phrase: "possible 911" and then laughing. It is also very common for African American women to ridicule white women mostly because they were born "white"
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