Written and Edited - June 14th, 2017 - 7:56 pm to 8:22 pm
Edited - June 26th, 2017 - 5:33 pm to 5:58 pm
Edited - June 27th, 2017 - 3:14 pm to 3:39 pm
I Took a Crash Course in Driving, Class, Race, and the Environment
I was so cautious about driving that I hesitated to get my driver's license. When I was about 16 1/2 years old, my father said that he was going to get another car. And if I got my driver's license by a certain time, then he'd give me his Toyota Corolla. But if I didn't get my driver's license within a certain amount of time, he'd sell his car.
So, the next time I had a chance, I took a driver's education class at Grimsley High School, when I was about 16 1/2 years old.
For part of the class, they showed us films related to driving and crashing where people died and were injured.
Those films scared the hell out of me. I think at the time, I might have connected the films where people died and were injured with relevant events related to things involved on November 3rd, cars, death, etc.
It terrified me like crazy. I told my sister about it. She said, "they're just trying to scare you." I said, "ya, well it's working."
One thing I realize that experience is just one of many that showed me that there's not a one-size-fits-all situation. Because people come with a variety of experiences, perspectives, etc. I reflect now that the teachers and administrators probably showed those films responding to a pattern of young people tending to feel invincible at that age. Then, engaging in risky behaviors or actions because of feeling invincible.
And while that is a valid response from some, it might not be for everyone, like me.
So with my sensibilities I don't know to what extent it was drama with November 3rd, and/or the autism related to the way I process things. Because I was already very cautious about driving.
And now, June 26th, 2017 at about about 33 years later and with other experiences, I see dynamics related to race, class, and mobility.
I honor my thoughts and feelings. But I also bear witness to mobility access as I've experienced myself and seen for others.
I've seen others struggle with mobility access because of the way structures are set up.
And so while it was somewhat challenging for me to have a car internally, looking back it was somewhat easy or at least a lot easier for me to access a car than a lot of other people in the context of the big picture.
So, I got to have this mid to late 1970's Toyota Corolla as identified by privilege.
And I think I helped with the laundry because we didn't have a washer/dryer in our house so we had to drive to the laundromat, usually or always at Friendly Shopping Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
So we didn't have machines but were able to drive to the laundromat.
I found the car to be incredibly sustainable and I did a decent job taking care of it. But I realized that I killed it by accident. But that's another story.
And looking back now, June 27th, 2017 at 3:23 pm, I also see cars related to expressing toxins in the environment. My journey since I was about 16 years old has brought me some insight and a little more awareness and connection with mother nature and my relationship with her. But that's another or several stories too.