A Letter To The Random Man I Messaged On Facebook
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

A Letter To The Random Man I Messaged On Facebook

A not-so apology.

19
A Letter To The Random Man I Messaged On Facebook
The Cut

It was a Thursday night. I was going through my Facebook feed, when the most recent video of a black man getting shot appeared below an Onion article ironically titled Black Man Blissfully Unaware His Name Going To be Hashtag By End Of Week. I clicked on the comments section, trying to see the details of the shooting under the video, when your comment caught my eye. The words you said, I won't repeat. I read the replies under it and wasn't surprised to see the uproar of good people setting you straight. But my curiosity still lurked. As I scanned your profile picture, the cover photo bannered the confederate flag. I felt the dismay in my heart seeing that your profile picture was an image of your young daughter. I returned back to the comments section and scrolled farther down, noticing that for every comment going that went against your own, you simply retorted another racist slur.

It must of been a mixture of a stressful weak combined with my long standing inability to turn the other cheek, but with one click I was staring at the Facebook messenger app, your name in the "To:" section. For fifteen minutes I typed and deleted what I so badly wanted to say. It began with curse words and insults, by the time the anger receded from my fingertips, i collected my thoughts as much as i could. It said the following.

Its not my place to message you, but I don't care. I see that the replies to your comment on the video left you with no feeling of remorse, and I doubt I'll be the only one messaging you directly. You are a sad excuse for a human being. The things you said are disturbing on many levels, especially considering you're a father. I hope your daughter grows up to be a more educated and compassionate person than you.

I realized soon after sending that as a sixteen year old girl, I didn't have a place to send a grown man a virtual hate letter. I regretted allowing myself to take out a week of stress and months of anger on an unsuspecting, but not undeserving, man from Texas. However, I felt no remorse for attempting to fight an injustice, even as petty as through a Facebook message. I read over what I sent and reminded myself the things you so ignorantly believed. I wanted you to know that you couldn't get away with nonchalantly demeaning an entire race in the comments section of a video that clearly portrayed the abuse of human rights.

I realized a few days later it wasn't that you, one man I had been so fed up with, but instead, knowing all I could do at that moment was send a message. I couldn't message the police officer from that video or the ones from the previous videos. I couldn't go back to when that man from the video was killed and save him from the racism that plagues our country. In that moment, all I had was Facebook messenger and you, the racist man from Texas.

In this new social norm of inequality, I have felt stuck in my abilities to help. I hope that as I grow older, I'll find a better use of my loud opinions and idle hands then shaming a pathetic man through the internet. I hope that as you age, wisdom comes along with it. But if not, I pray you become senile before you have the chance of passing any ignorant views onto your grandchildren.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

49694
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

31654
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955230
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180431
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments