Dear White People In Gwinnett County, Georgia,
I am an African decendent – a black woman. As a United States of America citizen living in Lawrenceville, Georgia, I am writing to introduce myself to you. I ask you to throw out everything negative you have read or heard about me and my community for one moment.
Now that you have done that, meet me, a beautiful, pecan-tan black woman. I was born at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. I attended school in southwest Atlanta, and graduated at the age of 15 in June 1975 from Therrell High School.
I started Georgia State University in September 1975. When I entered college, I did not take remedial classes, as I had a high SAT score. I have had a job since I was 16, and got my first apartment on my own at that age of 17.
I love living, am equal to any person, love watermelon and fried chicken, and have never served time in jail. I do not live in poverty and in fact, I make a good living as a front-end developer.
I am not an anomaly. I can introduce you to many, many men and women in my community across this country who are just the same – intelligent and productive human beings.
Recently I found out that studies show that 75% of your community – those who classify themselves as white – do not have any non-white friends.
Let that marinate.
So only 25% of your community have non-white friends.
According to the New York Magazine,
A new study from the Public Religion Research Institute has found that despite the fact that terrible white people continue to deploy the phrase “I have a ton of black friends!” to justify casual racism, it’s not actually true for three quarters of white Americans. Go figure!
Dear white people in Gwinnett County, Georgia, how about changing this statistic?
If you are open and willing, I am ready to meet you and help you get rid of all of the mistruths and misconceptions about my community you have been taught. And so are many of my friends and associates.
I invite you to join BlackGwinnett Magazine on Thursday, November 16, 2017 for the “Come Meet A Black Person” Networking Event in an open and non-threatening environment. If you are interested in attending, please register now for “Come Meet A Black Person” networking event today. All nationalities welcomed.
Read the New York Magazine’s 2014 article “75% of White People Can’t Even Use the ‘I’m Not Racist, Have a Black Friend’ Defense“
Looking forward to the “Come Meet A Black Person” networking event.