PHOTO PROMPT © Dawn M. Miller
As the Train driver made his debut journey along that old train track that his great-grandfather laid down, he recalled the gift of a toy train set he’d received as a child. That had started him on this journey to become a driver.
He reflected how far his family had come. His great-grandfather had built the line as a Slave and now his great-grandson was driving the train.
Just then one of his co-workers shouted at him. “Hey, keep your eyes on what you’re doing” then dropped the N-word.
Sadly, they still had a long way to go yet.
[99 words]
Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 07/December/2018
This story was written for the Friday Fictioneers Challenge. It was also inspired by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ excellent story about Hattie McDaniel.
See the link here:
This story also includes the following word prompts:
https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2018/12/07/your-daily-word-prompt-gift-december-7-2018/
Wow, what a powerful punch. That was a real eye opener
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In a good way?
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Oh definitely. It was a real wake up.
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I remember thinking, Oh, this racism thing has gone now, but that’s because In my little world, I don’t see it. But I have a good friend who made me realise that every time someone is a bit ‘offish’ to her, she wonders is it because they are racist. It is a constant concern for her.
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That’s really sad
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A good story. The end is a reminder to us all that the time of discrimination is long past, or should be.
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It should be, but it lingers. 🙂
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Yeah.
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Great ending, reminding us of the work still to be done in case we rest on our laurels. Well done.
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Thank you, Iain. 🙂
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People of color have always known racism never went anywhere. Sometimes it can be subtle, but the sting is there under the polite facades.
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That’s just what my friend Tanya told me. In my naivety I’d thought It had gone. I realise that isn’t so. Discrimination takes many sinister forms.
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Good story and so true that there is still a way to go. There are some people who seems to think that because something was “acceptable” many many years ago, then they have the right to carry on. A kind of “nobody’s going to tell me what to do” attitude. Wrong, wrong, wrong!
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Yes Indeed, that kind of prejudice is never acceptable. Glad you liked my story. 🙂
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Great story. I’d be tempted to drop the last sentence and let the reader form that conclusion for themselves
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Yes, I was tempted to do that, ‘Show’ not ‘tell’… I will think on it. Thank you 🙂
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this one packs a punch. i wish it wasn’t so…
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Me too. 🙂
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I’m afraid there are those who will never choose to change.
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That is sad but true. 🙂
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Excellent write. You did a very good job with some very difficult subject matter.
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Thank you very much. It is a very difficult subject, I’m pleased it worked out OK. 🙂
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Dear Kristian,
A long way to go for sure. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. At least progress has been made and ignorance is decreasing, but there will always be the haters.
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Well done, Kristian. And sadly, we are still not there yet…
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Thanks, Dale, No, not yet. 🙂
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