The #Granville Recreation District just reminded me that I am Black.
The executive director Andy Wildman finds acceptable that an employee and park trustee Justin Lodge has yelled at me twice while I was peacefully enjoying a park, falsely claimed that Princey attacked him and tailgated me out of Racoon Valley Park. He even provided false information to the Granville police after I called them on Justin’s boorish behavior. (Really, my 70-pound dog attacked him and Justin, the racist LAWYER didn’t call the police, report to animal control or have any hospital records to verify. Why…because it didn’t happen.)
White privilege is in full effect. Andy overlooks the bad behavior of Justin, his buddy, at the expense of others. (Same things some in law enforcement officers practice.) Was Justin punished for his actions?
Princey and I visit the park in off hours so he can swim and find sticks. His adventures are chronicled on @RacoonValleyPark and MyPibblePrince on Instagram. We have visited the park regularly without incident for our three years regardless of the season. Now some crazy entitled white man is trying to ruin our fun. Trump’s America in action. The tiki torch and khaki pants crew.
There is not written leash law, but they are demanding that my sweet Prince be on a leash. I have even been threatened with a trespassing violation. I see white dog owners enjoying the park without their dogs on a leash. It’s a little hard to play fetch with your dog on a leash.
Wow, I for some strange reason was expecting the park’s rules to be applied equally and fairly. The officials with the Granville Recreation District are letting their biases show: Pitbulls, Black women (I don’t think Justin would be yelling at my Black sons, the lawyer or US. Army Specialist who is training to be a Ranger), poor people. Granville is an upper-middle-class community, that has the reputation of being stuck up. I really never paid it any attention until now. I worked at Denison University for about six years. I was the introduction to the new students and their families. My kids went to the private school in the village. I got caught up and forgot at the end of the day I was still Black. Some people are intimidated by all this AWESOMENESS.
Jay-z said it best in The Story of OJ
Skin is, skin, is
Skin black, my skin is black
My, black, my skin is yellow
Light nigga, dark nigga, faux nigga, real nigga
Rich nigga, poor nigga, house nigga, field nigga
Still nigga, still nigga