I am so angry right now that I’m about to burst into flames. I didn’t realize how upset I really am about it until it dawned on me that I was actually grinding my teeth. Seriously! I thought that was the kind of thing people only did in books and cartoons. I had the unfortunate experience of having an interaction with a “friend” who likes nothing more than to crack jokes about what a fair skinned Black person I am. Yes, pick your jaw up off the floor — there is such a thing as fair skinned Black people. Shock of all shocks! I’m still the same shade of brown that I was when I was born, ‘lo those 30 years ago. And,yes! I am the same shade of brown that I was when I first met this person 10 years ago. Nothing has changed, except perhaps my tolerance of their ignorance which has all but quadrupled. It wasn’t funny the first time. It damn sure isn’t funny now. 
From Whence the Anger Came. . .
1. Why does this person feels the need to make such comments?
2. Why does this person makes these comments despite my having said quite plainly that it’s not funny and I don’t like it?
3. Why do I actually take a defensive stance when I know I am going to interact with this person and actually arm myself with witty replies and rejoinders in the hopes that something will crack through and get the comments to stop?
4. Why did I think that we are (at least I am) adults? I left high school in 1996 and left all this juvenile, ignorant BS on in the Senior Lounge.
There is a level of disrespect there that is galling to me. Sure, maybe in the beginning I joked about it, probably because I didn’t know what else to do. You know how when you’re caught off guard, you can’t do anything but kind of “heh, heh, heh” and keep it moving? I figured that after a while this person would grow up and it would stop. Then I figured when it happened, I’d handle it by ignoring it, which didn’t work. I tried to handle it by turning it back on them — didn’t work. And then I tried to embarrass them for saying such ignorant and juvenile things and that didn’t work. What’s left? Just punch them dead in the face? Mmmmm, so tempting. I have visions of the next time we are around each other, DH has to physically restrain me as I just land blow after highly scathing verbal blows.
*sigh* I don’t really want to have to stoop to that level. I’m a lady. Moreover, it would get really ugly, really quickly and more than likely cause ill will between our overlapping social circle. I now know what a seething rage is and yet, I feel completely and totally deflated at the same time.
I read on Gnostic Notes that, “When you give away your power to someone, that person has power over you. Anyone that can make or break your day has power over you. Anyone that can make you sad, mad or glad has power over you.”
I refuse to be disrespected.