Ignorance: not always bliss

The year is 2010. A year where we have equal rights, some legal gay marriage, acceptance, tolerance, etc.

Today I felt like it was 1950. A time of prejudice, hate, intolerance, and racism.

I was at work and an employee came up to me and asked me to deal with a concern in a theatre that a customer had. So I walked over and a couple were outside of a theatre telling me how a black man was in their movie. He walked in while previews were starting, sat his backpack down on a seat, and walked outside for a few min. He then walked back inside a minute later. They were concerned he was doing something bad. At this point, I really didn't think anything of it and just took the concern seriously and walked in to check it out. A single man in workout clothes was sitting near the front watching the movie (as it had started by this point) not bothering anyone. He had a normal backpack on the ground next to him. I stood in there for a few min just to make sure that nothing would happen. As you would guess, nothing did.

I walked back out into the hallway and informed the couple that nothing seemed to be wrong. The woman told me that the man had glanced at her and she just didn't feel comfortable with him in the theatre. She asked me if I would kick him out for it. I explained to her that he was not bothering anyone. And that it is very common for people to come in with backpacks and to use them to save seats and walk outside to use the phone or smoke. She said she knew for sure he wasn't doing either of these things and he was up to no good. Obviously no point in arguing here...

She continued to tell me how since he was black, he would do something bad. And she was threatened as a white woman. She compared him to a terroist, saying that they carry backpacks too. (I refrained from saying elementary students carry them as well). She continued on for quite a while. It took every ounce in my body to not say very mean things to her. I was shocked that people are still this racist and ridiculous. It made me feel sick to my stomach. I finally told her she could go get a refund if she felt that way, but I was not kicking someone out for no reason.

It sickens me that there are still some people out there like this. And had no problem voicing their concerns. Has America really changed? Seems we still have quite a ways to go still....

And God said... all men were created equal.