Dearest Readers:
I imagine a few of my friends will be totally unhappy with what I might say here, but here goes — I have many opinions I will not share here on social medias regarding the racism issues. I’ve read about the riots in downtown Charleston and many of those rioters were arrested for destroying property, burning police cars, etc. Good! If you destroy property, burn it just because you are angry about the racial issues in America, well you are not alone. I was so pleased when the Confederate flag was removed. I’ve always believed the Confederacy stands for racism. But — there have been Too many situations to share and discuss over and over again. One thing I will say to my friends who have said to me, “well if you ain’t happy with Confederacy, then why don’t you move?”
I laugh! Let me just say, this is the United States of America. Lately, we are the divided States of America. I believe we need equality, hopefully to end the racism angers.
To those of you who are not aware, the South, especially Georgia and South Carolina, are managed by a system called the “Good ole Boys!”
Those Good ole Boys do not like it whenever someone disagrees. They want us to agree with them. Recently I saw the Good ole boys system in the works when I filed a complaint of sexual harassment and threats to my life at one of those ‘private good ole boys’ organizations. After doing all I could to get the situation resolved, I was told to have a ‘mediation’. Agreeing to this was my mistake.
At the mediation, I was belittled, degraded, and made to feel weak, especially after the person who touched me where he shouldn’t, was allowed to verbally abuse me during the ‘mediation.’ Never did anyone with any authority reprimand him! I was told to let this end tonight. After all, “ending this is good for the order….”
To those of you who’ve never been treated this way, you are fortunate! Seeing how the ‘good ole boys’ are allowed to do things for the ‘good of the order,’ is such an antiquated way to operate. I lost respect for this ‘good ole boys club’ that night!
I’ve held my head high. No, I didn’t fight it anymore. I was exhausted. I had the bulk of gossip because the issues were shared. I was told it would be confidential. It wasn’t! Many times, I had women approach me, asking my name. Then, quickly they walked away! No doubt, they were only a portion of the gossip clique. I refused to allow them to intimidate me. Trust me, if this situation ever happens to me again, I will call law enforcement. I will not go quietly into the night!
This is only one example of the ‘good ole boys’ club operation! They cover each other and don’t care when someone files a complaint that could embarrass them.
And now, here in Charleston, we have protests. Demands to ‘take it down,’ including the John Calhoun statue. I’m certain others will be removed too. Where will they go? Personally, I don’t care. I think it’s time for us to move forward — not look back.
Many historical issues are embarrassing. Yes, I’m from the South, but I’ve never been proud of the Civil War. Slavery. How women were treated. We were told we couldn’t vote. What women should do is – and I’ve heard this TOO MANY TIMES – “Women should stay at home. That’s where decent women belong. They shouldn’t complain. After all, men will take care of us, IF we OBEY them. We must keep the house. Have the babies, and keep our mouths shut!”
Once, I heard my husband actually say of those statements to me. Believe me, the Julia Sugarbaker and the Women’s Suffrage Movement kicked in to change his tune. I thank God I wasn’t born during the 1900’s time. I’m certain some ‘good ole boy’ would have done something to ‘shut me up!’
Incidentally, if you do not know about the women’s suffrage movement I would like to share a bit about the women’s suffrage movement, ‘a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States. It took activists and reformers nearly 100 years to win that right!’
Yes, 100 years! The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granted women in America the right to vote, a right known as women’s suffrage, and was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending almost a century of protest.’
Nevertheless, women still have to stand up and ask why when we see the lack of equality we still have. I’ve had friends ask me why I’m “still a feminist.”
Trust me. I will never stand down or shut my mouth! My father encouraged me to stand up and voice my concerns. Yes. I. Am. A. Woman! And damned proud of it!
And now, I shall get off of my soapbox and get busy with a few things I must do — for me!
Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author 