Hartselle is no city of hospitality
Dear Editor:
I was born in Decatur and lived most of my life in Hartselle with a few years in other cities and a couple of other states. And when I was a child, my mom and I would go to the courthouse in Decatur and I would see signs that said “Whites Only” and other signs that said “Colored Only” above the water fountains. I never understood this and still don’t and that was 55 years ago. I’d see certain people go to the back of the café to order food and I never understood that. I thought racism was abolished.
I am writing this letter to say I think it (racism) is back but aimed at a homeless lady living in her car. I know this lady personally and have and still do go talk to her. She can’t help her situation. I know she has been offered places to stay and I was told she refused. Well what strings were attached to these offers? I can sense a fear in her and I feel she thinks her car is a safe haven and she doesn’t feel safe to stay anywhere else. She doesn’t have the mind to work. I know this from talking to her. She is not in her right mind and maybe she feels threatened from certain offers. I admire her for surviving this long in a car with the cold of the winter. This past summer was almost unbearable with our air-conditioned houses and she had nowhere to get cool. She has been banned from almost every place in Hartselle, even the library. I thought the library was a public place to go in and read and study. She has to drive several miles just to use the restroom. If she gets some money given to her, she is not allowed to go in and eat anywhere in Hartselle. She has been told they don’t like the way she is dressed. I see more skin and fat hanging from people’s attire all over town that looks far worse than she does. I could go on and on, but I think this gets my point across about how upset I am with the treatment of this lady and her unfortunate circumstances. It is like racism is back but against different people. I never agreed or understood racism, but it did exist and still does to a degree today.
I am sure this won’t be published in the paper, but I really don’t care. I just want my feelings known. I am embarrassed and ashamed to say I am living in Hartselle, Ala., the so-called “City of Southern Hospitality.” I touch base with this lady a good bit, taking her personal things that people give me. I have been told she has a parking lot she can stay in because of a kind person in Hartselle business.
Brenda Hilton
Hartselle
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