• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, September 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Tales of the Only One: Privileged mistreatment

by Charles Hallman
May 25, 2016
5
SHARES
100
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Only-OneThis column continues the Only One series in which this reporter shares his experiences as the only African American journalist on the scene.

My normal sports journalist routine is to arrive at the ballpark or the arena at least two hours before game time. It allows me time to work without being bothered by noise or noisy people. I usually get a good start on some pre-writing details before White privilege arrives like a Billie Holiday song “Good morning (or evening) headache.”

The Only One encountered White privileged thrice last weekend and it was multi-generational, occurring in one of America’s remaining Jim Crow institutions — the baseball press box.

While the Twins-Toronto game last Friday was well underway, a local sports magazine publisher, who I might add, rarely speaks to this longtime local sports reporter, decided to stop and chat with a visiting sportswriter sitting next to me.

But instead of sitting in an open seat — and there were many on the reporter’s left side — the late-inning knucklehead decided to carry a conversation with his White privileged behind squarely in my face, intentionally ignoring my humanness. I had to shift my position in order to keep my dignity.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

My late mother was my first teacher. Among the first words she taught me whenever I accidently stepped on someone’s foot, or reached over them while sitting or interrupted in conversation, especially if you wish to speak to them, was “Excuse me.” Obviously this middle-aged White individual learned to offer such simple courtesies to Whites only.

Yes, the Mindy factor was clearly in play that night during another Twins defeat.

The following day at the Gophers ballpark, I had hoped to speak to the team’s only Black player on being a member of the school’s Big Ten regular season champions. I arrived even earlier than normal, and sat in a temporary location, the television booth while a school spokesperson was going to create a space for me.

I don’t know if that created space materialized because I left an hour before the first pitch after a young White woman, not once but twice, reached over me, over my work space without again saying those two magic words.

I was a disrespectful Mindy sandwich because on the other side of me sat another young White woman, who similarly acted as her fellow generation member. Both of whom I’m sure weren’t alive when I started in this business and acted like this five-decades-plus journalist didn’t exist.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

For both of ours sakes, I left not only the cramped press box but the on-campus ballpark altogether as hot as the temperature that unusually warm late May Saturday in Minnesota.

My mother, if she was alive today, would be celebrating in July her centennial birthday. She never went to college, leaving the honor of being the first one in our family to do so to her only child.  But she was my first teacher. She made sure that I knew the difference between bumping into a wall and a human leg or foot, something which I have found too often that many Whites don’t know or don’t want to know the difference when they step on my foot or bump into my aging leg.

Excuse me are words never spoken. Simple non-tech words that speak volumes to make someone feel like they are human.

But it’s not just Whites not knowing these two words, and it’s not just a journalistic hazard or indignity. There are plenty of multi-generational Black people who don’t know them as well.  And not hearing them is just as bothersome to me because simple human decency knows no race.

Finally, the two words my mother taught me — excuse me — seemingly is no match for White privilege, whether it’s practiced young or old.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Freddie Bell takes the lead at KMOJ  

Next Post

Stormy weather no match for Beyoncé

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Linemen lead St. Paul Central past city rival
Sports

Linemen lead St. Paul Central past city rival

What should the community do with the Third Precinct now?
Local

City Council reneges on Third Precinct proposal

Hennepin County attorney to handle investigation into Cobb killing
Local

Hennepin County attorney to handle investigation into Cobb killing

The debate over police officers in schools
Local

The debate over police officers in schools

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon
Health & Wellness

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink
Local

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink

Next Post
Stormy weather no match for Beyoncé

Stormy weather no match for Beyoncé

Comments 1

  1. Jeff Swenson says:
    7 years ago

    “But it’s not just Whites not knowing these two words, and it’s not just a journalistic hazard or indignity. There are plenty of multi-generational Black people who don’t know them as well. And not hearing them is just as bothersome to me because simple human decency knows no race.”

    Well done on burying this in the 13th paragraph.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 28
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: