10/12/2021
When I was in my early 30’s, I walked into my unit in Conway, AR, one day just as two good old boys were telling a “joke.” The “joke” was very racist in nature. I stared at both of them with a look of pure horror and disappointment, turned and started to walk away. Bubba (yes, that was his real name) hailed me and asked, “Didn’t you think it was funny, Sarlo? You have to admit it was funny.”
I gathered in my fury and slowly turned around, hands clenched at my side, my face beet red. “No, I don’t find it funny at all. I find it racist and disgusting.” They both snorted and laughed. I stalked out. For that and many other reasons having to do with integrity, I was blackballed in that unit and eventually refused to reenlist when the time came.
I have never found bigotry in any form funny. But particularly racism, being a native Arkansan who is old enough to remember things I wish I never saw or heard.
This week, Netflix is insisting on airing Dave Chapelle’s special, “The Closer.” In his special, he not only humiliates transgender individuals, but proclaims himself, “Team Terf.” He attempts to defend himself by announcing that he once had a transgender friend. Yea, Mr. Chapelle, I know many racists, who have claimed to have a black “friend.”
From a personal standpoint, I cannot begin to tell you how much this hurts me. I’m tired, really tired, of attempts to humiliate, terrify, or worse, erase my transgender brothers and sisters. In 2020, 44 transgender individuals, that we know of, were murdered for being who they are. The reason I state that we know of, is because many newspapers and family members around the country continue to misgender trans folks, even in death. They won’t even allow them dignity in death. I have had enough!
I and my family will be boycotting Netflix until Dave Chapelle is pulled out of their programming and a public apology is made. I ask that my friends do so, as well. We have plenty of other choices these days. There is no reason to include Netflix in our programming choices.
~Justin
