Confessions of a Midwestern White Man.

September 9, 2008 in Life with 1 Comment

I live in Iowa. Iowa is blindingly white. Caucasian. European American. Almost 95% white, in fact.

I never felt more white than I did today at Mister Car Wash. You see, I rolled up to get the $6 wash (best in town, in my opinion) and quickly took note of my surroundings: White soccer mom with a cell phone attached to her ear, a white middle-aged woman in the lobby talking on a cell phone wearing a mink coat (not joking), a white businessman in a Beamer, and a white 28-year-old pastor with a bulbous head talking on his cell phone (that would be me.)

As I rolled through the line, I noticed that a large majority of the people working on my car were Hispanic or Black. I noticed that most of them did not make eye contact with me. I also noticed that most of the people who went through the wash paid no attention to the workers outside their car. Not even once. All of us were too busy talking on our cell phones to notice the human being literally 12 inches away from us on the other side of the glass.

I’m not saying we need to be best friends with the person who washes our car, but what struck me so hard was the distance that I perceived. The distance between human beings. The distance between Black and White and Brown. A distance that’s dangerous.

As I rolled off the assembly line, I said out loud, “Lord, that did not feel right.” I don’t know why. I can’t tell you for sure, other than I know (I hope) it was something more than the phenomenon known as “White Guilt.”

Am I the only one who’s experiences this? Any of you been there? Black, White, Hispanic or otherwise? Anyone have name for what I experienced?

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One Response to “Confessions of a Midwestern White Man.”

  1. Natalie September 10, 2008 at 5:42 am #

    Guilty white woman: However, growing up in Detroit, where the racial diversity is continually growing, I have some “car wash scenario” suggestions for you.

    As you pull up and give the money to the car wash employees ready to “pre-scrub” your vehicle…ask em’ how they’re doin. Then emphatize with the fact that they are probably tired. Hand them at least $1 tip, smile, and tell them to enjoy their night, once they get off of work.

    I grew up a block from the Dollar Car Wash (yes it only cost $1, but now in 2008 it’s $2) across the street from “Woman Care” the abortion clinic. Incase the tip still doesn’t make sense…it’s basically, relate to someone as a person not as a race. Which, it sounds like you really want to do, because God made us all equall. Right?

    Anyway, if you want to follow my husband (also named Justin) and myself as we explore cultural differences within various countries around the world, feel free to check us out: http://www.nomadbackpackers.com

    We leave on September 30th to backpack to different countries around the world for a year or so. We know God will teach us a lot.

    We would love to have other opinions, ideas, encouragement, advice, helpful tips, and more left as comments.

    Thanks,
    Natalie