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Blog archive

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

An Example of Inherent Racism

By Lora Harrington-Pride
Posted: 07/14/2024
Tags: lora harrington pride

The son who is a building engineer, whom I wrote about before in the “slapping incident” at a civic center, is still experiencing racism on his job, which he has worked for 30+ years, only now he is 64 instead of 40. 

This time he was in the parking facility of the center, seated in a machine called a “Boom Lift”.  The lower part of the machine supports an extensive ladder-like apparatus which in turn holds a basketed platform, created to hold one man as he is lifted to building tops and lighting posts which loom into the sky; a very daunting piece of equipment.

My son, turned to find a white woman in her senior years, same as he, who excused herself and said, “This may sound silly, but my 15-year-old granddaughter wants to know if you know how to operate this machine you’re seated on.  Have you been trained, and are you licensed to do so?”  I told her that I didn’t know but I’d find out for her.  Are you?”

My son lowered his chin to his chest, smiled wearily and said, “Ma’am, we can’t go near a machine of this kind unless we are licensed to do so.  Do you know the liability this center would face if anything happened with the handling of this machine?  Do you know that insurance would not cover the unlicensed handling of this machine by anyone?  Ma’am, tell your 15-year-old granddaughter that she needn’t worry, I have been trained, licensed, and insured.  The center protects itself like that.”

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