Let’s Stop Pretending Like 'Equal Opportunity' Exists | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Travel

Let’s Stop Pretending Like 'Equal Opportunity' Exists

Who are you trying to convince: me or you?

154
Let’s Stop Pretending Like 'Equal Opportunity' Exists

Right now I'm sitting in the Milwaukee airport waiting patiently to get on the plane to go home to see my family for Easter. Like many people, I really hate the airport but not for the reasons you may think. My complete and utter dislike is due to the treatment that I have unfortunately become accustomed to between security and getting on the plane.

When it comes to security, you would be appalled by the number of times I've been stopped for a "hair search." "I'm sorry, but your bun is really big." Yeah…but what would I be hiding in my hair? The metal detector didn't even go off, yet they feel the need to stop me and check my hair…it's absurd. Other passengers get to breeze through security while I'm stopped, searched, and have to rush to my gate with a now crooked bun.

For this trip to save money, I decided to fly basic economy, which means that I have a guaranteed seat on the flight but have to wait until I get to the airport for an assigned seat. Even though I arrived early to get the best possible seat, I was told conflicting information by Delta personnel. I said to one employee, "Hi I am looking to get a seat assignment, and I'm flying…" and the woman rudely cut me off saying, "you're way too early. Come back in forty minutes." This was the third person I had spoken to about getting a seat assignment, so I was starting to get a tad frustrated. I was told that this was supposed to be a quick and easy process, but it was anything but that. A white woman only a few years older than me was in line behind me. When I heard her ask the same question, the now friendly Delta worker said: "I will be assigning seats shortly."

Because I no longer trusted the information I was receiving, I sat near the desk and saw the difference between how I was treated and spoken to and how others were being treated. When they made the announcement that they were ready to assign seats, I was the first person in line but was again given the cold shoulder. When they finally gave me a seat, it was in the last row of the plane in the middle seat. While I was happy to just be able to finally go home, I realized that the White woman from earlier wasn't anywhere near where I was sitting. She wasn't in the last row in the middle seat. Even though I was in line and given a seat assignment well before her, she was quite a few rows ahead of me.

People are so quick to say equal opportunity exists, but I can't even get on a plane to see my family for Easter without running into issues of prejudice. I can't go to the mall without getting stopped or followed. I can't start a semester without students acting surprised that I thoroughly understand the course material. I can't walk around my college campus without the campus police looking at me like I don't belong and must not go to school here. So the next time you claim that "Black women are angry," maybe consider our day to day experiences. The next time you say to a minority "equal opportunity exists," remember this article. And the next time you say "people need to pull themselves up by the bootstraps," maybe you should look at your new Gucci boots and reevaluate because at the end of the day, you could be talking to someone who is wearing hand-me-downs or don't have boots, to begin with, and no real equal opportunity to improve that situation. At the end of the day, I am a very calm person and typically refuse to let microaggressions affect me. However, these "coincidences" add up, and sometimes I think it's imperative to bring them to light.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

45
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

104
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

1674
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

680
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments