“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 1: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination. Cleon E. Spencer
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particular attention to them and to the answers. O.K. with you Leo.”
“Sure,” said Leo.
Collin asked, “Leo, when the professor brought chuckles on you in the lecture room, did everyone in the room chuckle?”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” said Leo, “a minority of them really.”
“Did anyone openly show support for you,” asked Collin again.
“Well, there was no opportunity in the class, but after it was all over and the professor gone, a chap who had remained behind came forward, gripped my shoulder real firm and said, “Hang in there boy. He doesn’t like you, but hang in there.” Then he went on his way.
Collin asked further, “Were there any others there who showed support either by word or implication.”
Leo smiled. “We’re getting into attitudes and intangibles again aren’t we?”
“Yes, but they work on both sides,” reminded Collin kindly.
“Right,” said Leo, “Yes, you’re so right, and there were some positive attitudes around that evening. After the professor had gone, there were a few students standing around the lecture room, and also some lingering outside the door who gave me what I would interpret to be sympathetic looks and glances, a few smiles, as I gathered my things and left. Of course these gestures meant so little to me at the time. All that was on my mind was the confrontation itself, and I was so upset.”
“Thanks Leo,” said Collin as he now turned his attention towards Albin. “Albin, I just want to ask you a simple question; first, you stated that you dropped out of your class last year because ‘they’ - ‘they’, he repeated with emphasis, ‘were against you.’ Now, I haven’t heard your story yet, but I would assume that your professor for that class, and some of the students no doubt, didn’t like you, and took a negative attitude towards you, or, as you say were against you. But I would like to point out to you, using Leo’s example, that although those who were negative towards you absorbed your attention, and certainly a negative professor would produce that effect, there were also, no doubt many there who were silent supporters.”
Albin nodded.
“These silent supporters are not always of much practical help, but they do give a boost to the morale when we are up against it,” said Collin.
“I see what you mean,” said Albin as he now seemed pleased rather than shy about being included in the procedure. He added, “When I was a soda-pop salesman it was easier to distinguish the good ones from the bad. In that less complex environment most of them were good and showed it openly, but that all seems to be crowded out now by the bad experiences.
Collin turned his attention to Dr. Eldren. “Dr. Eldren, I have parted from the story telling, but I figure if I just planted that thought in Albin’s and indeed in all our minds, near the beginning, it would help us to keep in mind the positive side of our experiences.”
“I think it’s a very good point you brought in there Collin, very good,” nodded Dr. Eldren, obviously pleased.
Collin turned to Leo, “Your professor’s parting remark that evening was ‘you’ll be hearing more about it,’ and we assume you did. But since you finished that course, I can only assume one of two things: either the department tried to cover up for the professor, brushing under the carpet the wrong he had done, as though nothing much had happened. This would allow you to go back and finish under a sort of truce between the two of you; or, he was oblivious to that whole aspect of human behavior and in his naïveté just passed you on to a counselor thinking automatically that you had a problem, that the problem was yours and yours alone.”
Leo looked wide eyed at Collin. “You seem to know my story before I tell it,” he quipped with a smile of amazement, “are you psychic or something?”
“No, not psychic” answered Collin, “just experienced; been through the mill many times in various spheres of life.”
“Of course there are other possible scenarios but to my mind, these are the ones most often used.” Then Collin came abruptly from his reflection. “Sorry folks,” he apologized, “I’ve interrupted Leo’s story, and delved into speculation. Guess I just couldn’t resist sharing as though at long last I have found people like myself; but tell me Leo, and then I’ll let you be free to continue, since you did complete the course, which of the approaches was it?” “It was the second Collin, as you will see when I relate the happenings to you.”
Owen now spoke up. “I just knew from the beginning you’d be a great help to us Collin, and its showing through already. You show that you have insight into our problems.”
The other group members passed varying positive remarks, in support of Owen’s statement. Collin cautioned them soberly, “Understanding a matter is one thing, coming out on top of it is another, as you shall find out. Leo should tell us what happened now, and we shall see.”
“Sure Collin,” Leo continued with his story. “The unpleasant incident in English 2002 took place at a Tuesday night lecture. On the Thursday night following I attended my weekly class in English 2007. I arrived for it about ten minutes early as usual. Shortly after my arrival the professor came in, a very pleasant person indeed, and he handed me a letter, saying he had been asked by the department head to deliver it to me. The letter was sealed. I opened it and it was a request from the English Department Head that I make an appointment to see him. So next morning I phoned his office, and arranged to see him that afternoon. I got off work early to keep the appointment.”
Leo went on without interruption, “I arrived at his office on time, and entered the outer area where I was greeted by his secretary. “He’s expecting you,” she informed me, “I’ll take you right in.”
I followed her through the open door.
“Mr. Aidan to see you sir.”
“Yes,” he replied as he began to size me up and down. “Yes,” he said again, hesitantly, “yes, thank you.” The secretary left the room, closing the door behind her.
“Sit down, sit down,” the department head said, his hesitancy now coupled with a puzzled facial expression, as though almost bewildered.
“You’re getting good at describing the intangibles,” said Gilda joyfully. Other group members supported her with similar remarks.
“Why was he bewildered at the sight of you Leo?” asked Albin again. Leo paused to search for words for his answer.
Collin, now more glad than ever to be in company of his own kind, could not refrain from answering for him, “He was expecting a rowdy and a ruffian, was he not Leo?”
“Right on Collin!” remarked Leo excitedly, “right on. He had been expecting a tough character, and when it didn’t turn out to be so, he was on unfamiliar ground, and puzzled by it.”
Gilda probed once again for descriptions of intangibles. She would leave no room for misinterpretation or wrong diagnosis if she could help it. “Can you substantiate with something concrete, your supposition that the department head was puzzled, and that he had been expecting a rowdy?”
Leo smiled at her, “yes, I can Gilda, I think I have the hang of it now.”
Leo continued, “I sat down, and he said, ‘you’re having some problems in English 2002 class. Can’t be much I’m sure.” He looked me up and down, obviously favorably impressed by me. “Can’t be much,” he repeated. “I’m sure this matter can be easily rectified through our Student Counseling Department. I’ll make an appointment for you there”, he said as he reached for the phone.
“But sir,” I replied.
“Oh don’t worry, we have a very good department there. You’ll find them to be a good bunch, very helpful and effective, and they won’t hurt you; strictly confidential of course, no need to worry about anything.”
“I knew,” said