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300 Words or Less (or) You Need to BACK. UP.

You know what really grinds my gears? (Yes, I have been known to watch Family Guy #nojudging).  White guys who take up a lot of space.  The guy who is so unaware of his size, gender, race, class and who tries to intrude on my physical space.  The guy who tries to hug me constantly, even though I have told him numerous times that, you know what, hugging, really ain’t my thing.  That one dude who thinks it’s funny when I ask him politely at first, but then with more force, to back the F-UP!  This man who believes that the more he tries to come into my personal space, eventually, I will let him in.  He is going to take it, by force, and nothing, I mean nothing, is going to stop him from trying.

Dude, White guy, MAN!  Please.  This isn’t funny.  Your continual disregard for my personal space, my comfort, my safety, my wishes, and adamant rejection of your advances are not funny.  Are disrespectful.  Are wack as hell.  Are uncomfortable.  Are pissing me the F-OFF!

Back up.  Don’t you sense my discomfort, my anger, my growing rage?!?  Or is my history, my identity, my story something to be ignored and devalued?

How can I help you understand that your size overshadows my 5’3” frame?  How can I help you understand years of patriarchy, racism, and classism?  Do you realize that you are perpetuating these –ism?  What do I need to do to make you understand that my humanity is being reduced to a game that you are intent on winning?  Or maybe, it’s not my job to make you understand…

By Angie Hambrick
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