Watching Racism in Action

Last week, I visited New Orleans. The flight from L.A. to NOLA was eventful; to say the least.

SPIRIT Airlines will be experiencing some flack from unhappy patrons in the next coming weeks.

So what happened?

Basically, an African American Man gave up his window seat, which he paid extra for, to sit in the last row of seats near the bathrooms so that a group of three female friends could sit together. Prior to giving up his seat, the girls had to wake him up. Since it took them a couple of tries to wake this gentleman from his nap, the flight attendants assumed that he must be intoxicated. So, after switching out seats, while he is sitting in the new seat, a flight attendant comes over to ask him if he is "OK to fly."

Naturally, the gentleman was surprised. He had just done something nice, and was sitting reading his book when the attendant approached him. There was some dialogue back and forth, which resulted in another flight attendant coming over to ask if he was "OK to Fly." By the time the third flight attendant came over this gentleman was starting to get worked up. He had a bewildered look on his face and was trying to explain himself: "Look, I was just sitting here reading my book. Why wouldn't I be OK to fly? Why are y'all singling me out? I paid for my seat!" Feeling attacked, he was beginning to raise his tone in exasperation.

I am an empath, so I could sense the anxiety within him building. I could feel things elevating in the wrong direction. I turned around, and gave him my hand : "Listen man, you are not wrong, but sometimes it's better to sit down than to fight with people who are not willing to listen." He agreed, and with wide-eyes replied: " True, but I haven't done anything. I gave up my seat, which I paid for, and I was sitting here reading my book. What I cannot stand for is the fact that they are trying to single me out." We agreed with each other, and he did sit back down.

At this point, the flight police have arrived to the scene and they are insisting that this gentleman cannot fly because the captain doesn't want him on board. They justified this by explaining that it is a three hour flight, and if something were to happen while we were in the air no one would be able to diffuse the situation. The flight police begin to forcibly escort the gentleman up the aisle.

The man, attacked, upset, and emotional, looks around, and yells to the plane "Man this is not right! If anyone believes in what's right, please stand up and say something!"

The flight police begin dragging him down the aisle, and to my horror, no one says a word, no one stands up. So, I do the only thing I can do; I stand up and walk down the aisle to the flight police. I tap on his shoulder: "Excuse me officer, but this is not the correct thing to do. This gentleman is feeling attacked and singled out, and I guarantee you that he just needs to be heard, and maybe just needs a hug."
The officer gives me the same general "This is a three hour flight, and if anything happens there will be no one here to diffuse the situation." I look at the upset man, and back at the officer: "Nothing is going to happen."
The Officer replies : "The captain has already made the call, he doesn't want him on the flight."
I am getting frustrated now, "Yes but, he hasn't even spoken with him. He is just taking the initial flight attendants word for it."
At this point the lead flight attendant comes over to me to say: "Miss you are going to have to sit down or I will have to have you removed from the flight." I look her in the eyes: "This is wrong. This man hasn't done anything." She repeats: "Miss, if you don't sit down I will have the officer remove you from this flight."

The injustice here is now burning my eyes, angry tears are rolling down my cheeks as I walk back to my seat, and as the officers drag the still protesting man off of the plane.

Aside from SPIRIT Airlines handling this situation in the worst way, the thing that upsets me most is literally no one else on this flight stood up for this man. Worse still, impatient passengers are yelling: "Enough already! Let's go!" No one seems to give a shit that a person has wrongfully escorted off of this plane. All everyone seems to care about is being able to order a drink already. The polarity among people of color and people not of color is palpable; many "white folks" have yelled "Enough already!" A few people of color shake their heads sadly and say: "Some people will never understand." An older white woman yells at me while I walk back to my seat: "Shut up already and sit down!" I respond with "Why don't you stand up for what's right for once?!" She has no reply, but stares at me with anger.

After a few minutes, things settle down again, and the flight staff proceeds with the usual safety and seatbelt speech. The flight attendant that threatened to have me escorted off the plane is now cracking jokes over the intercom about how SPIRIT will provide complimentary snacks and drinks, just not alcoholic drinks, to everyone for their inconvenience.

Once we are in the air, and folks have their complimentary drinks, I am certain that they have forgotten the face of the Man who was wrongfully taken off of the flight.

I can't forget the bewildered expression on his face. I can't forget the confusion in his eyes for having done something nice for someone, and then being treated like a criminal. I can't stop thinking about the fact that if I had been in his position nothing would have happened because I am a 5'5" white-looking female, while he is a 6'2" buff black man.

We are living in a very polarized world right now. It is not surprising to see racism in the news, hate crimes in the news, injustices, and so forth. To see these things in real-life, and in real time is unsettling, but these are the moments to stand up and use our voice to create catalysts for positive change. As a collective, we have to do better. It starts with each and every one of us. If you see something happening that isn't right: say something. You have a voice, use it. The internet has given us the gift to be able to quickly share ideas and information; we can no longer afford excuses.

Image Art by : Manzel Bowman