I just came back from the airport, where I started the process of getting an access badge. Something to use in case of a disease outbreak there. I had to get fingerprinted, so they can make sure I've never done something evil that would make them think I should not have access to the facility. The form that I had to fill out had descriptive fields - height, weight, hair color, eye color, race. There were codes to be used in these fields - like BR for brown (hair or eyes). For race, one had to choose from Asian, White, Black, or Unknown. I think there were only four. My issue was that there wasn't an option for more than one of the the choices, and there wasn't an Other or Mixed. So I didn't use any of the codes.
The woman working there told me I had to put one. It was not in a nice voice that she told me this. When I questioned her on this, she said that the finger-printing computer wouldn't move forward in the process without one of those four codes. Which sucks, because I'm more than one of those codes. So, then she suggests I put Unknown. I sigh, but agree, while muttering that I do know, so why should I put it. But then she says that if I put Unknown, it will take an extra 3-4 weeks to process the application. Why? Because then I can't be appropriately racially profiled?
I ended up putting Black, ignoring my father's genes, since I'm in the Black box (ha, ha) in the FBI's files anyway. And it's easier if one is consistent in misrepresenting oneself.
And then I come back from the airport, and this guy in the office makes a comment about my probably having caused some suspicions because I look Arab. He's made similar comments before, indicating to me that he prefers to put me in that (inaccurate) box in his head.
I get tired of boxes. Unless you have a box titled Shokufeh.
I am Shokufeh. I am short and brown.
word.
Posted by: Afshin at April 7, 2003 05:38 PMYou are Shokufeh. You are short, brown, and beautiful.
Posted by: +mojan. at April 7, 2003 06:41 PMi was filled with a sudden rush of love for you. you are shokufeh, my cousin, the one who has burped in my ear, blown up my nose, pinched my butt, and i love you for all of it.
Posted by: meisa at April 9, 2003 10:50 AMI would pick today to check your site, which I must confess, I hadn't seen in a long time.
Since you know how I feel and what I think about those boxes, I won't repeat it. I'm just so sorry that a splintered world does so much to try to sever us from each other and to fragment individuals. Fortunately, you are not only cute and brown but amazingtly cenered and self-confident.
Your Pop can handle it, I'm not sure I can.
Love and respect,
mom
It's so sad that we are all centered on security and being so detailed oriented in the US right now, and yet some folks are so still living in the 50s that "mixed" isn't an option in a race quiz and if you object to this, they punish you and your career by making you wait an extra 3-4 weeks for the requested item. This might be almost worth the wait except there is actually a real threat of an outbreak, soon. Ugh. I'm sick for you. Idiots.
Posted by: lacey at April 10, 2003 06:26 AMThanks, you guys. (Bashful smile)
Posted by: shokufeh at April 10, 2003 09:04 AM