This lady likes to us this phrase “this is why we can’t rise as a people!!” and while in San Ignacio this weekend I found myself saying the same thing.
While having dinner with the Croc Wrestler a black man (Tom) with short locks walked up to the Croc Wrestler and said hi. They had a brief discussion and walked off. The Croc Wrestler told me that he had met Tom the night before at the hotel restaurant and the hotel staff had said he that Tom was cool to hang out with and that he could take him round San Ignacio. The went to a bar and got talking and Croc Wrestler bought Tom some drinks. Tom had apparantly given him some story about needing money for food so Croc Wrestler gave him some cash. Tom left to get food and this was the first time since last night that Croc had seen him.
At this point Tom returns to our table but enroute he stops at another table where an American hands him some money. When Tom got to our table he asks Croc if it is possible to get a drink and before Croc can respond, Tom has ordered a drink and asked the bar to put it on Crocs tab! Tom then went off somewhere.
Later that night we were at a bar and who should turn up…Tom! He sits with us and orders three drinks. The waitress brings the drinks over and he makes rude and suggestive remarks. Since Tom ordered the drinks you would think he would be paying…instead he looked at Croc and said that would be $7.50 please. It was my round so I took out the money and Tom was about to take it from me and I insisted on handing it to the waiteress. When she brought back the change I left her a tip but Tom took it. That was the last straw for me. He left and we left.
We did not see him again until Sunday night and I pulled him aside and told him he was an embarrasment to his country and his people. Tom is educated, he is well spoken. He can find a job if he chose to. Instead he goes around targeting white people, begging and conning them out of money. We as black people have fought long and hard to be recognised as people who can hold our own. Yet here is a black man who is willing to give up his pride and his diginity for a few dollars! I know that between Saturday and Sunday he made about $100 and had drinks “bought” for him too, yet he still carried on.
I reminded him that Belize relies on tourist trade and he is not helping his nation. Most importantly I told him there is no where I shall let him take advantage of my friends because their white and nor shall he embarass me in the presence of my white friends by acting a fool.
He said thank you and he never came back to hassle us again.
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wahu says
Kui, my lecture mode is about to come into play, does the guy only hassle white people, did he not take your money too. Sometimes the man has a problem that has nothing to do without him black. His behaviour is unforgivable but don’t put it into the nyeusi.
A. Wahu
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Kui says
A. Wahu…he barely spoke to me the whole time. I was the one who asked his name after he had spent an hour with us.
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Jose Chacon says
I like the way you managed the situation. Acutally its rather unconfortable to see people “preying” on tourists. It makes me angry actually.
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Mika says
I went to the lady’s blog and understood what she was so upset about.
Good for you. I hope Mr Tom understands what the truth of what you were saying, and learns from the lecture.
On a lighter note – trust you Kui. Also what did the croc man say about the granny competiton in Aussie land?
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Wahu says
The thing is from Jose, it is a problem that people prey on others and not just tourists, the problem will be that tourists become an “endangered species” and that they should be protected at all costs. Then you have Belize becoming a tourist haven like some African countries that we know. That was the line I wanted to take from the start. It is good that you handled him in this way.
Love
W
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Mich says
Sounds like you did the guy a favour, hopefully he’ll take your comments to heart and try to find something better to do with his time. Good jobs babes!
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Kui says
A. Wahu I agree with you that in some ways it is more a tourist than a race thing; however most people in mainly black countries assume that if you are white you are not only a tourist but that you have money. I have seen it in Kenya when I am with Mich, people will speak to him before the speak to me. If I go to certain places alone or with my black friends we are ignored yet I go to the same place with Mich and we are seen to right away. There are still many black people out there who have a ‘mzungu ni mdosi’ mentality. I think Tom had some of that.
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ciru says
lazy low-life leech of a man. how mortiyingly embarassing! However, I suppose tourists/white people shouldn’t act as enablers to these opportunists too…
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Pambi says
Hey big sis, I’m very impressed by the way u handled “Tom” but not anyway surprised. U c something is not right and u make a point of doing something about it, I admire that… But Ciru I don’t think it is right to blame the tourists. People like “Tom” love giving other people their hard luck stories just so that they can get a little money here and there. A. Nish, A. Njeri, Kui, Amandla, Mimo and Myself have all been on the receiving end of grown-up black men in Nyeri begging and targetting us for cash.
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wahu says
Nice discussion, let us talk poverty of mind, body,spirit,wealth and health. Because this is what it is all about. Pambi why should up black men not beg and target you for cash. Poverty is not like dignity that you can wear like a robe. The beggar might have more than you but still wants more.
W
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Kui says
Nobody should have to beg. Tom was not poverty stricken, he was just being greedy and being a pest.
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Pambi says
Black men should not beg and target me for cash because firstly I’m broke and secondly it shows lack of dignity on their part and finally it puts me an awkward position of feeling as if am some how obliged to hand over whatever money I have. As Kui said it is not a matter of poverty it is a matter greed and oppotunity. We could all make excuses for doing the same.
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Kaki says
*shakes head*