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le-markyesterday at 5:39 PM2 repliesview on HN

I saw my mom do something as a child that really stuck with me. This was back in the 70s cause I’m old. It was summer in the Midwest we were in the car in a store parking lot gettin ready to leave. An African-American lady pulled into a spot beside our car. In front of her was a pickup truck with two men and a pregnant woman. They started accosting the lady telling her she had bumped their vehicle and now the pregnant woman was in pain. This was the 70s so everyone’s windows were down so we heard the whole thing. The gist was these people were clearly trying to extort money from this lady. My mom got out and dressed them down because she had been watching and the ladies car didn’t touch their truck. They sulked and drove away. The lady was very afraid and very grateful. This was a time and place where not a lot of African Americans lived. That really stuck with me over the years.


Replies

bitwizeyesterday at 11:06 PM

Back in the 60s, my mom befriended a black lady at work. I believe this was in Texas, so a couple of her (white, male) superiors approached her and tried to impress upon her that this was something that Just Wasn't Done 'Round These Parts. It didn't take, and she and the other lady continued to go out for drinks after work.

stavrosyesterday at 8:19 PM

Your mom was especially courageous to do this as a child!

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