Dears Boys,

First off, don't you know it's 2017? The R-word hasn't been cool for awhile now. But for some reason you just can't seem to let it go. Racism should've died along with shoulder pads and neon, but alas it still lives carried on by generations of ignorance.

Back to you though, boys. It was a Thursday night, you had just come from a bar and I was on my way to get pizza with a friend. It just so happened that we were waiting at the same crosswalk, and me being the friendly--and maybe naive--person I am decided to strike up a conversation. Only one of you talked to me, and that's because we realized we were both Greek (the ethnicity not the house). We talked and enjoyed finding someone to relate to, but then it came time to part ways; me to my pizza and you to your fraternity house.

I guess maybe you thought you were out of my hearing range, but the problem is I have really good hearing. And I heard everything. I heard you condemn your friend for talking to me. I heard you tell him how much his "social status" was now at risk. I heard it all. The sad part is, I wasn't shocked. Once I found out your fraternity I understood why the only person who would talk to me doesn't even go here.

So yes, I heard you. I just don't get it. I mean you don't know me, I don't have any sort of reputation, but still you felt like you could judge me. And yes your words did hurt, they deflated my already struggling self-esteem. But then I realized you get to go through life missing out on really cool people because of ignorant, out-of-date, thinking. So I pity you.

Now to the boys who wanted me to hear them. Yes I heard you when you rolled down your window in a crowded parking lot on a bright sunny day to ask me "what I was selling", since you saw me standing in front of a rolled down window. No, I did not respond because I was already dealing with the shock of being in a car accident--but what would you care. I wish, however, I had responded with, "Nothing you can afford, assholes".

Our best responses always come a little too late, I guess. But honestly I'm glad I didn't respond; that you didn't get the satisfaction of seeing your words pierce me.

Words have power, no matter how quietly they are whispered or how high they are yelled from the mountain tops. Next time I encourage you to think twice about the words you choose to speak to or around someone; people are always listening.

Sincerely,

The girl who heard you.