The Barber Shop and Modern Racism

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to America" except for an old Jewish man there is a surprisingly, a 65 year old Asian man named Han sitting in the corner. There are 3 black barbers who address myself as cracker when I enter with phil. There are photos of famous, powerful African Americans on the wall. Dr. King, Henry Aaron, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. The three pepper haired men, though refer to me as cracker, insist `I sit down white boy, and shut up.' The chairs, three of them, are worn brown leather chairs with tarnished worn-off chrome on the hand rails. The room smells of hair spray, baby powder, and not trying to be racist but fried chicken. The men and Phillip engage in conversation, catching up like old friends. One of the gentlemen, named Clarence, tells me I have nothing to be worried about, that this shop is neutral; he then reaches behind the chair and pulls out a pump shotgun. Overall, the first 25 minutes of the adventure is a crazy, emotional roller coaster.

* Being the only white male, and only ...

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is respect your elders, and don't trust the white man.

* As the lone white man in this scenario, I am definitely the oppressed party however there was not a scenario in which I was not the oppressor. However women who were verbally oppressed during our conversation, would definitely hold more weight and power had there been any women there to put all us men in our places.

* Clarence Browne, aged 66 years old. His father bought the barber shop from another man in 1983. He comes from a long list of barbers, he has no formal education in being a barber. He was in Vietnam from 1969-1972, fighting the good fight with the Army. With both of us being army infantry, we were able to talk ...

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