Comments on: Southwest Airlines & ‘The Souls of White Folk’ http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/ Writer. Journalist. Activist. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:50:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: infamousqbert http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-5110 infamousqbert Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:54:33 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-5110 i'm so sorry this happened to you. i don't know what to say, but i do promise to try that much harder to be sensitive to my own "white-power" and do my best to not allow this kind of thing to go unchallenged when i witness it. i’m so sorry this happened to you. i don’t know what to say, but i do promise to try that much harder to be sensitive to my own “white-power” and do my best to not allow this kind of thing to go unchallenged when i witness it.

]]> By: Caroline http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4976 Caroline Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:33:27 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4976 I'm sorry for your experience, Tamara. Yet people of color, especially women and queers of color, experience this shit every day. God knows how many times I could relate to this whenever I have to sit next to a white person, especially a white man. They think they have it all--and they do. I plan on not flying with Southwest. I’m sorry for your experience, Tamara. Yet people of color, especially women and queers of color, experience this shit every day. God knows how many times I could relate to this whenever I have to sit next to a white person, especially a white man. They think they have it all–and they do.

I plan on not flying with Southwest.

]]> By: Justc call 911 http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4725 Justc call 911 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:55:27 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4725 People if this happens to please please please call 911 from you cell phone tell them where you are and that an assault took place and the flight crew are not responding to you call for help. The 911 dispatcher is obligated to send a police officer to the scene. The flight will not be able to take off till the caller has been identified and interviewed by a police officer. If other bystanders try to stick up for the perp make sure you tell the people that they had not witnessed the incident. I have found that in a crowed place all sorts of human trash will come out to save the perps. Also please do not use profane words, keep calm take deep breaths make sure you tell the 911 dispatcher that you fear for your safety if you really do and if the flight crew does nothing. If this happens during flight make your call when the plane lands to 911 tell them which gate you will be getting out at. I went through this and the police were waiting at Newark airport. People if this happens to please please please call 911 from you cell phone tell them where you are and that an assault took place and the flight crew are not responding to you call for help. The 911 dispatcher is obligated to send a police officer to the scene. The flight will not be able to take off till the caller has been identified and interviewed by a police officer. If other bystanders try to stick up for the perp make sure you tell the people that they had not witnessed the incident. I have found that in a crowed place all sorts of human trash will come out to save the perps.

Also please do not use profane words, keep calm take deep breaths make sure you tell the 911 dispatcher that you fear for your safety if you really do and if the flight crew does nothing.

If this happens during flight make your call when the plane lands to 911 tell them which gate you will be getting out at. I went through this and the police were waiting at Newark airport.

]]> By: WTR http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4585 WTR Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:39:00 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4585 Sounds like you need to learn Krav Maga or something. People tend to take you seriously when you can hurt people. "You're a big girl...five dollar?" *punch-to-the-throat* "..and that's what happend Officer....I thought the shade of purple-blue would go well with his shoes." Sounds like you need to learn Krav Maga or something. People tend to take you seriously when you can hurt people.
“You’re a big girl…five dollar?”
*punch-to-the-throat*
“..and that’s what happend Officer….I thought the shade of purple-blue would go well with his shoes.”

]]> By: the man in the glass http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4543 the man in the glass Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:35:52 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4543 [...] the man reached across himself to grab my left arm. With my arm in his grip, he looked me in the ehttp://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%E2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%E2%80%99/The Official Guy in the Glass Web PageThe poem has become also known, incorrectly, as &quotThe man [...] [...] the man reached across himself to grab my left arm. With my arm in his grip, he looked me in the ehttp://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%E2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%E2%80%99/The Official Guy in the Glass Web PageThe poem has become also known, incorrectly, as &quotThe man [...]

]]> By: Nae http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4464 Nae Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:54:58 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4464 You should have yelled, "Get your hands off of me!" Then at least it would have caught the attention of more passengers that he was assaulting you. I had a similar experience flying back home on Delta. On a returning flight, I had first class seating and was forced to sit in coach because I had on jeans. I was 19 and unaware of the dresscode especially since I wore jeans on my departing flight without a problem. I was already seated and the stewardess made me give up my seat to a white man with a buddy pass. I resisted, showing her my ticket over and over again and she repeatedly threatened to get security and she did. They then made me speak with a security officer and he then told me about the dresscode and that I had to get off the plane if I didn't cooperate. The reason I say it was about race is because the stewardess was polite with everyone until she looked up and saw a young, black female with a first class ticket. I was sitting in the window seat and from where she spotted me she couldn't even see my pants at first. However, as soon as she saw me her face grimaced and she started asking me if I was in the right section. She then requested and promptly snatched my ticket from me to see if I was in the correct seating. When she couldn't move me for incorrect seating she then and only then came to check out my attire. I ended up writing a letter to delta and they gave me a sorry apology letter. You should have yelled, “Get your hands off of me!” Then at least it would have caught the attention of more passengers that he was assaulting you. I had a similar experience flying back home on Delta. On a returning flight, I had first class seating and was forced to sit in coach because I had on jeans. I was 19 and unaware of the dresscode especially since I wore jeans on my departing flight without a problem. I was already seated and the stewardess made me give up my seat to a white man with a buddy pass. I resisted, showing her my ticket over and over again and she repeatedly threatened to get security and she did. They then made me speak with a security officer and he then told me about the dresscode and that I had to get off the plane if I didn’t cooperate. The reason I say it was about race is because the stewardess was polite with everyone until she looked up and saw a young, black female with a first class ticket. I was sitting in the window seat and from where she spotted me she couldn’t even see my pants at first. However, as soon as she saw me her face grimaced and she started asking me if I was in the right section. She then requested and promptly snatched my ticket from me to see if I was in the correct seating. When she couldn’t move me for incorrect seating she then and only then came to check out my attire. I ended up writing a letter to delta and they gave me a sorry apology letter.

]]> By: graylion http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4445 graylion Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:59:29 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4445 Well, you are a male. and this is about grabbing and threatening. She had every right to be as upset as she was. Well, you are a male. and this is about grabbing and threatening. She had every right to be as upset as she was.

]]> By: Jonathan http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4364 Jonathan Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:06:28 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4364 Did she have to use the F word right off the bat? I've been cramped on a plane before and had people get into my space before but I didn't cause a scene over it. Everybody in the story is wrong in some way. But we're all in this together and we all have to work together for peace and harmony. Stories like this perpetuate the problem. Did she have to use the F word right off the bat? I’ve been cramped on a plane before and had people get into my space before but I didn’t cause a scene over it.

Everybody in the story is wrong in some way. But we’re all in this together and we all have to work together for peace and harmony. Stories like this perpetuate the problem.

]]> By: Jackie http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4333 Jackie Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:07:06 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4333 Tamara, I'm very sorry this happened to you. It seems Southwest keeps managing to kick itself in the shin. If it's not their anti-fat policies, it's this. Eventually they'll just be seen as the worst airline ever, if they keep this up. I know how it feels to be disciplined by people like you're a small child. I look younger than my age, 26. I think because I don't wear makeup, and I haven't starved myself. The latter I believe is now being seen as being adult. It amazes me how the people who seem the most adamant about pointing out to people they're not being an adult, are the ones who are the most childlike. For example, I know you wouldn't have done this, I most likely wouldn't but would really have wanted to. Tell the flight attendant, "Listen, are you done throwing your temper tantrum now. Yes I said a bad word, why don't you go cry to captain about the big bad scary word I said. Of course after you treat the man who threatened to assault me, threatened physical violence. Oh maybe I should say, he tried to inflict a boo-boo on me, do you understand that? Treat that man like a poor victim, like the school bully on the playground. That bully who starts crying once they get caught, and play victim. I seem to be the only one here remotely behaving like an adult!" I mean, I know someone would get into HUGE trouble for saying that, but when it comes to reading about the behaviour of that flight attendant. It reminds me of all the times I was talked down to in public school like a idiot. All the times I was told it was my fault, that I was being bullied by the schoolyard sadists. I finally realized the problem isn't me, it's them. It's not that I'm immature, it's that they are immature. I know you may know this already, but it wasn't your fault. You just happened to board an airplane that also seems to have served as an adult-child daycare. Tamara, I’m very sorry this happened to you. It seems Southwest keeps managing to kick itself in the shin. If it’s not their anti-fat policies, it’s this. Eventually they’ll just be seen as the worst airline ever, if they keep this up.

I know how it feels to be disciplined by people like you’re a small child. I look younger than my age, 26. I think because I don’t wear makeup, and I haven’t starved myself. The latter I believe is now being seen as being adult.

It amazes me how the people who seem the most adamant about pointing out to people they’re not being an adult, are the ones who are the most childlike. For example, I know you wouldn’t have done this, I most likely wouldn’t but would really have wanted to. Tell the flight attendant, “Listen, are you done throwing your temper tantrum now. Yes I said a bad word, why don’t you go cry to captain about the big bad scary word I said. Of course after you treat the man who threatened to assault me, threatened physical violence. Oh maybe I should say, he tried to inflict a boo-boo on me, do you understand that? Treat that man like a poor victim, like the school bully on the playground. That bully who starts crying once they get caught, and play victim. I seem to be the only one here remotely behaving like an adult!”

I mean, I know someone would get into HUGE trouble for saying that, but when it comes to reading about the behaviour of that flight attendant. It reminds me of all the times I was talked down to in public school like a idiot. All the times I was told it was my fault, that I was being bullied by the schoolyard sadists. I finally realized the problem isn’t me, it’s them. It’s not that I’m immature, it’s that they are immature.

I know you may know this already, but it wasn’t your fault. You just happened to board an airplane that also seems to have served as an adult-child daycare.

]]> By: Daughter of the Ring of Fire - Another Reason Not To Fly Southwest http://kenyonfarrow.com/2008/03/03/southwest-airlines-%e2%80%98the-souls-of-white-folk%e2%80%99/#comment-4332 Daughter of the Ring of Fire - Another Reason Not To Fly Southwest Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:47:43 +0000 http://kenyonfarrow.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-4332 [...] and, like the assailant, white, while the woman attacked was Asian). Full details of the incident here, along with a smart analysis by the woman on whom this was perpetrated (found via [...] [...] and, like the assailant, white, while the woman attacked was Asian). Full details of the incident here, along with a smart analysis by the woman on whom this was perpetrated (found via [...]

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