I Think They Just Said Coloreds

Let's just say my in-laws are not the shining stars of race relations. I'm pretty sure the NAACP has them on the "do not call ever" list. And I wouldn't be surprised if they would kick us all out for bringing home black dolls for Quinlan. Seriously, I'm surprised they even let my Chinese mother in the house through the front door.

Just another reason why I'm so excited to live with them. Diversity? That's eating peas and corn MIXED together alongside and even possibly touching the mashed potatoes.

Watch out. We're getting crazy up in here.

So, you can imagine the interesting experiences I had during their few visits to Mississippi. It's really their sort of town. Separatists flourish around here. And for the most part, you can pick out stores based on ethnicity. God help us if we actually shop in the same clothing store.

Nope. We have our "own" clothing stores and we must never mix them.

After hearing more than an earful from the relatives who talk out their ass so much I imagine it hurts, I took them shopping in our quaint little downtown area. Apparently, my FIL saw a pair of shoes that he had liked sitting outside one of the stores, and wanted to go back.

We were weaving our way through the several blocks of croc selling and personalized cross peddling shops when we happened upon the store of which he spoke. And, for all intents and purposes, it was a store that I can quite assure you had never seen one bright shiny white face EVER. In fact, I'm pretty sure the very friendly Indian owners were quite certain we were looking for a restroom or change.

But as it turns out, the clothing styles in the shop (think bright yellow suits, purple polyester pants, and huge top hats) are almost exactly the same styles my in-laws wear out dancing every weekend. Go figure.

And so, they went on a shopping frenzy.

Two pairs of pants for $35? my MIL cried. Um yeah because they're light purple with a huge black stripe going down the side.

PERFECT!

Okay. Maybe not the purple, but my FIL tried on a black and white suit that almost made me eat my own shoes. Speaking of which, the pointy black and white buckled scary excuses for shoes he wanted? - Bought 2 pairs.

Apparently, they had no idea where they were shopping, the store owners were in 7th heaven, and I was thinking about how ironic it was that they were admiring and wearing clothes in a store frequented by folks they would generally have nothing to do with.

And did I tell them? No. But I thought look at that. The power of fashion bringing people together and highlighting our similarities.

No matter the color of your skin, there's always someone with really bad taste.

Comments

[Brony]

That was funny! I would love to see photos of their bad taste.
It is unfortunate that they can't see beyond colour. But I guess it's all about taking things one step at a time.

[Kathleen Marie]

I am still laughing. This is a treasure for the grandkids to read years from now.

My inlaws said "Negras". It took me a year before I understood what they were saying and I think I looked so stunned they didn't know what to think!

If they would have said "injun" I might have had to do a war dance.

[Dawn]

Please jesus tell me it's line or clog dancing. Please

[Jenny]

Ha! Love it.

[Lady M]

Another call for pictures, please!

What kind of dancing do they do? I'm scared to know.

[Jennifer]

Ugh! Racism. Can't say enough about how much it sucks. What's with people anyway?

I'm half filipino (flip), a quarter german, and a quarter of something else. All my life I endured more racism from both sides of the tracks than I can possibly blog about for the rest of my life. As a matter of fact, I posted about one really bad, core shattering episode a few months back which involved my son. Anyway, my mother claims to high-Heaven that she's totally equal when it comes to ethnicity. But, bwah! Who is she kidding?

Each time we're out it's either "God, those people stink" or "I can't believe she dates a black guy", or something or other. Completely embarassing.

I just hope you're able to keep your sense of humor intact after you've moved in with your in-laws.

Good luck!

[Piglet]

Very funny, love the title. Ignorance never ceases to amaze me. And I feel for you, I really do.

[fizzle]

This is your life, and it's the reason you keep a blog. At first, I imagined them walking in to Pimp's Warehouse or something....

But fashion and who does it wrong, indeed can bridge the differences amongst people.

[Waya]

That's very classy people there. I'm wondering what your hubbie thinks about you writing about his parents. Or maybe you could care less.

[Her Bad Mother - live from the Mother 'Hood!]

Oh, man, I wish that you could have posted pics of those duds. Love it.

[VirtualSprite]

Oh, that's fabulous. Your story, not the in-laws racism. That stinks.

And, yes, bad taste knows no boundaries.

[Mrs. Chicky]

Well, how could they see the color of the shop owner's face when they were mesmerized by the flashy purple suits? Really, who wouldn't be awestruck by those clothes.

[mrsfortune]

Haha. I guess bad taste is color blind. So to speak. Or something.

[TB]

I think Chrisina Aguliara, Tara Reid, Lil Kim and Mariah Carey prove that fact every day.

I know you'll have this little gem to pull out of your memory banks every time the in-laws get on your nerves. Just imagine them out with their like minded friends talking about where they bought their clothes. Hilarious.

[Chase]

Hahah! Beautiful.

My parents would get along FAMOUSLY with your inlaws. They could sit around and talk about how nice it was to have seperate drinking fountains. *rolls eyes*

[Fresh Mommy]

I'm half-Japanese and have ignored/endured several racist comments from my brother-in-law and occasionally my father-in-law, too. Usually it relates to food (as in "chink food" or "gook food"), and I swear they think that makes it okay.

[mamatulip]

LOL. Truer words have never been spoken.

[Stephanie A.]

Internally I would have been very pleased with this situation had it been my own family.

My grandparents are totally racist despite the fact that family members have married/dated black people, people from the Phillipines, and even one from Pakistan whom THEY HAVE GROWN TO LOVE! Of course, my grandmother does often say that by the time my youngest cousin begins dating, she'll be bringing home an "alien from Mars." Nice.

So, I guess you could say that I get you on this one.

[m]

Hahhaha!! That was rich.

Did your kids want any of it? It seems like whenever we get around really wild clothes, they start grabbing things off racks and holding them up...

You must live in the 'sowse'

[mothergoosemouse]

Another request for pictures. C'mon - before you depart forever, let's have a photo tour of the town.

By the way, I told my parents that story about the pimped-out car with the radio blaring, nearly blocking your exit from a parking place, and how you locked all the doors. They loved it. That's still one of my favorite stories of yours.

[martstar]

Divided by race and by gender. No co-ed shopping in the deep south. I'm guessing the dress and hat shop is on the same block though?

Pictures would be awesome. Please tell me he bought a hat and it has a feather in it. A big purple feather.

[Mother]

Ha. I'll take a picture of the outside of the store. How's that?

I actually need to do a final photo essay of Mississippi. One of the many projects on my never ending list of things to do!

[Kvetch]

Oh I love the last line. A classic from this day forward.

[Pattie]

I think you should provide photographic documentation of the stuff they bought...I have to see it now! :)

[DM Strong]

now THAT'S the best story of the day.

I especially like the bringin' it all together part at the end.

do the inlaws know you write this?