If one more person asks me how I would like it if an Indiana business
refused to serve me because I’m black, I’m going to lose what’s left of
my mind
warns
Kira Davis on Louder with Crowder (the
film producer was also interviewed by Steven Crowder).
I just need everyone to stop.
It’s not just the question that is driving me nuts. It’s the fact
that no one is willing to accept that my answer is what it is – which is
“I wouldn’t care!”
You see, that’s not the right answer. The answer is supposed to be,
“Oh my gosh! I never thought about it like that. You’ve made such an
amazing, salient point and I’ve just been so hung up on my gay-hating
Bible rules that I didn’t take the time to think maybe I wouldn’t like
it if someone chose not to serve me because of who I am!”
It’s important to note that this Indiana RFRA says absolutely nothing
about discrimination and has nothing to do with homosexuals at all.
This whole debate is ginned up outrage and navel-gazing. I hate to even
participate because it means conceding to discuss a controversy that is
non-existent in the first place. That being said, it is what it is and
people keep bringing up this dumb question, so I feel I must stoop to
address said question.
So, acknowledging of the fact that this discussion is completely
unrelated to the text of RFRA, the truth is, I don’t care if there is
someone in America who would refuse me service based on my skin color or
my religion or my heterosexuality. The truth is I have the luxury of
not caring because this isn’t 1915; this is 2015 and my ancestors have
fought and died to secure my rights to vote, earn, serve and travel
freely within the boundaries of this fine nation.
Being a black woman who grew up on a tiny island in northeastern
Canada in the 70s and 80s, I have been called a “nigger” more times than
I can count. It was hurtful. It took many years to escape the pain of
that time in my life and learn to forgive. Also…so what? My feelings
were hurt, but what in tarnation did what those people think about me
have to do with how I eventually went on to make a lovely, rich life for
myself in another country?
Nothing! So people didn’t like me because I was black. Big frikking
deal! I still worked. I still voted. I still went to school. I still
found friends and family to love. I still dressed myself, paid my bills,
drove a car, etc. I’ve worked many different types of jobs over the
years. I became a wife, a mother, an actress and eventually a writer.
I’ve been able to work hard and enjoy the fruits of my labor. There have
been plenty of people in my life who’ve been disgusted with me simply
because of my skin color. None of them are here today and not one of
them had the power to stand in my way and keep me from claiming what was
rightfully mine.
“But Kira, wait! You say it’s not 1915 but if enough businesses
refused to serve you because of your sexuality or race aren’t we looking
at a repeat of that era?”
No, silly. What you’re talking about is a “slippery slope” and we’ve
been reminded over and over again that there is no such thing as a
slippery slope. So put that out of your paranoid little heads.
If we somehow wake up in 2 years to find out we’ve magically slipped
back into Jim Crow I’ll be the first one to take up arms and march in
the streets like my ancestors have.
P.S. – you anti-second amendment folks might want to rethink the
whole “right to bear arms” thing just in case those right-wing nutjobs
really do get their way and set back civil rights 150 years like you’re
always claiming they will. Having the means to oppose an unjust
government might come in handy when the government isn’t run by the
Golfer-in-Chief anymore. Just a thought for you.
I don’t want to force anyone to serve me or play or work with me if
they fundamentally object to me or my lifestyle for whatever bizarre
reasons. I certainly don’t want to give those people my money. I’m happy
to take my earnings elsewhere, thank you very much. Good luck with that
whole racism thing!
Let’s not waste anymore time with these silly hypotheticals. I’m far
too reasonable, far too old, and have far too much experience with
actual discrimination to spend my time arguing about a situation that
has absolutely no appreciable consequences for the success or failure of
any educated, hard-working American.
Gay friends, just don’t buy pizza from a pizzeria that doesn’t want
to cater your event. Black friends, just don’t buy wedding cakes from a
bakery that doesn’t think you should be marrying that white person you
fell in love with. Put away your wallet, write a nasty review on Yelp
and holler “Bye, Felicia!” as you walk out the door to patronize a more
accepting (and probably more successful) enterprise.
If worse comes to worse and you get too annoyed you can always hash out your issues with your Starbucks barista.
