Do you get offended by the stares?

When I first had my son almost 20 years ago (gulp), I got a lot of stares from every race. His dad and I were married and we lived in Kansas. The stares ranged from curious to downright hostile, comments were made, names were called by complete strangers. My mom experienced this as well when she would take her grandson to the store. Things have changed a lot over the years, I think or maybe I have just gotten so used to it I just don't even notice anymore. Some old folks will always just stare, they were raised in a different time and place, and apparently any possible good manners just go right out the window with some of them and they just stare. I did date a guy a few years ago who was ALWAYS commenting on how people would stare at us, I never noticed it at all, I got the impression he wanted people to be shocked or to stare or be offended. Funny thing is now when I go out with my son somewhere if people are staring it's because they are trying to figure out if they are seeing a cougar in action...everyone thinks WE are a couple now....my son is completely grossed out by this...haha. ;-)

 

I can handle the stares. It's my female partners that are the question usually.

I'm an avid Skier/Snowboarder who can out perform a large amount of the others on the mountains that have been at it twice as long. I also happen to be black, and although not as rare as it used to be, it still kinda shocks people when they see me up there doing trails or runs they wouldn't even consider. So a stare on the hill is completely normal, and the black people always acknowledge the presence of our people with a nod or smile.. However, God forbid I bring a lady friend with me on a trip.

Flashback last winter when a co-worker of mine who happened to be a former instructor came up with me for a weekend. Two expert skiier's don't hit the tourist trap hills that have a bunch of weekend warriors from the city. We hit the challenging smaller hills that the locals like to keep their own. Thus, your gonna have a more rural, back-country crowd. Everywhere we went, the looks were pretty blatant.

Some were downright mean, especially when we went out for lunch or dinner. I'm pretty accustomed to ignoring it and my companion didn't seem to notice. At least she didn't comment that she had noticed.

I guess on a level or another, I enjoy it, and that's sad. I'm not out to antagonize the white dudes, but there is that whole 300 years of oppression and all. A brotha can't help but smile inside.