Parallels

CATEGORY

life

I stood up for myself. I said it was not fair the way I am treated. I deserve better treatment.

I was told to stop complaining. I should be grateful.

I stood up and defended myself. I am just as good as you. I can do what you can do. I have a lot to offer.

I was told I was ignorant and lazy. I was a financial burden.

But, I am willing to work, you will not let me. If I were treated better and given the opportunity, I stood up for myself. I didn't want to be abused anymore.

I was told I deserved it because I was worthless. All my achievements and deeds were discounted one way or another.

Eventually, there came a time when I allowed myself to be brainwashed and I started to believe what I was told. It was much better than getting knocked down at every attempt to defend or elevate myself.

But then, I tired of my situation. Yes, it was easier to go with the flow. At least the abuse was less overt, though no less hurtful. We could pretend that everything was as it should be, but it was not.

Once again, I decided I needed to defend myself and I needed to hold my abuser accountable. It was time to stop existing and start living.

I made every attempt to escape my past and leave it behind. At every turn, I was reminded. 

I asked for help and was ignored. Those that could help sided against me. You see, it was easier for them to ignore my situation because they did not understand.

I was asked why I stayed and endured for so long if my situation was so bad. This justified why they were unwilling to help. You see, it couldn't have been so bad if I stayed, right?

Despite my evidence, my thoughts, my feelings, and my visible and invisible scars were given no merit. I was discounted again.

That was when I raged. I was not being heard. I was angry and hurt and you wouldn't help, so I raged. I lost it. Nothing sensible had worked up to this point. I raged because, at least that garnered some attention.

Then I was told my behavior justified my treatment. Then I was thrown in jail.

These are the parallels between an abusive relationship and the relationship that supports racism.