Why would a simple act as
offering an elderly woman
my seat
be imbued with
Racial Overtones?
So I am sitting on a pew
With three other young women
All White
Watching a concert in a sanctuary
That is packed with
Standing room only
I watch the backs of the heads of gray
All belonging to White people
Old People
In the back where I sit
Several people are standing
The first Old Lady
Comes to the corner and
One of the white young women
Rises to give up her seat
I watch the Old Lady
Daintily move in to sit close to
Me
I wonder if she will feel discomfort
Sitting next to
Me
I don’t have time to ponder this
Because another Old(er) Lady appears
This one looks a bit younger
She keeps looking my way
I guess thinking I ought to give up
My seat
I begin thinking about Race
What would it look like
If I were to
Jump up
And offer her
My Seat
Should Age trump Race?
Should my sense of decency trump Race
What about this situation makes me
squirm uncomfortably in the pew
I feel cornered
Needless to say as I ponder
All this
I forget about giving
My Seat
I am just consumed by
My Dilemna
Another young person
Gives up her seat
I go scot-free for now
A few more minutes
My eyes catch those of an
Elderly Black Lady
And I almost beg her to
Take
My Seat
Hoping this will
Relieve me of
My Guilt
And relieve me from
Having to eventually feel
guilty enough
to give it to a
White Old Lady
