2015 - 2016 Cyberspace. Facebook.
COLLEGE ACQUAINTANCE ONE and COLLEGE ACQUAINTANCE TWO exchange private messages.
June 12, 2015
College Acquaintance One:...and then I questioned Toni Morrison's comments and everyone jumped on me.
College Acquaintance Two: I missed that. What do you mean by 'everyone'?
College Acquaintance One: It was like no one else in the conversation thought we could question Toni Morrison's writing.
College Acquaintance Two: But you did. And?
June 13, 2015
College Acquaintance One: I think I was misunderstood.
College Acquaintance Two: Maybe. You know some folks seem to object or comment on an issue only if their privilege is threatened. Heartbreaking.
College Acquaintance One: You know how much African-American literature I've read.
College Acquaintance Two: I'll bet lots. I'll take your word for it. Gotta jump.
July 1, 2015
College Acquaintance One: I wanted to re-read our exchange and try to figure out if I mis-read what you posted or mis-understand your reaction to what I posted. I'd have been more interested in actually seeing you suggest a particular essay and asking if I'd read it-- to further your point about 'privilege'.
July 15, 2015
College Acquaintance Two: I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but why should I take time to suggest an essay? Why don't you find an essay and tell me about it. Or send me a link. How was your 4th? I'm still full. My family had a huge cookout, and I had a passionate affair with the leftovers. ☺ Love your new background family pic. You seem happy.
July 16, 2015
College Acquaintance One: Thanks. I thought our photo was kind of corny, but it's Facebook. ☺ Anyway, I was looking at our thread, and noticed that you wrote to me earlier that '... the only time some folks seem to object or comment on an issue is if it requires white folks to question their privilege.' That's quite a slap. Are you categorizing me as one of those 'folks'?
August 17, 2015
College Acquaintance Two: I'm losing track. I hope I didn't erase any of our prior conversations. Is that possible on Facebook? A 'slap'? Why do you find it difficult to believe that you can make a short comment about Morrison's texts, and I can also observe the way you analyze her writing?
August 25, 2015
College Acquaintance One: Are you going to the reunion?
August 31, 2015
College Acquaintance Two: Probably not.
College Acquaintance Two: Me either. Too much $$$$.
September 15, 2015
College Acquaintance One: I don't think there was anyone else in this thread who questioned that line from her writing. I had a pretty reductive "reading" of me. I think you didn't understand why I might feel hurt or offended by what you wrote. This is my best effort to explain my reaction.
September 16, 2015
College Acquaintance Two: I'd have to go back and re-read the thread. You know how I am. Was I sarcastic?
September 30, 2015
College Acquaintance One: You were mean.
October 1, 2015
College Acquaintance Two: Did you find an article? Did you pick out Matt's Halloween costume? Will the Republicans find anyone for their nominee?
November 3, 2015
College Acquaintance One: Why are you being so difficult?
College Acquaintance Two: I'm not. We disagree.
College Acquaintance One: You know I wrote my thesis on Faulkner and Morrison.
College Acquaintance Two: I don't care if you married a Black man and had eight kids.
College Acquaintance One: My husband's not Black.
College Acquaintance Two: You get my point.
June 1, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: You know I've been thinking about our disagreement.
College Acquaintance One: That was six months ago.
College Acquaintance Two: I know but I want to be clear. I've decided that of course, you're free to criticize Toni Morrison's novels. And I'm free to criticize your criticism.
June 3, 2016
College Acquaintance One: I think you know me.
June 4, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: I do. You're looking for absolution.
June 5, 2016
College Acquaintance One: What does that mean? People came down on me so hard. All I did was criticize Toni Morrison.
College Acquaintance Two: Right, and I criticized your criticism.
June 6, 2016
College Acquaintance One: I just meant that people seem reluctant to criticize her.
June 7, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: They should be. She's a fuck*ng genius.
June 8, 2016
College Acquaintance One: You don't have to curse.
June 9, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: What the fuck are you talking about?
June 10, 2016
College Acquaintance One: Why are you so angry?
June 11, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: I'm irritated. You don't get a pass from me. Find a Black person who agrees with you which is what you want.
June 12, 2016
College Acquaintance One: I never asked for a pass. You're misinterpreting my criticism.
July 1, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: I'm not. Do you think heterosexual folks who support gay rights have some sort of 'pass' to unaccountably comment on everything and everyone 'gay'? Because they have 'gay friends' ? Fuck that. I love Wilde and Baldwin. I don't give myself a pass. Neither do my friends.
July 2, 2016
College Acquaintance One: Let's just stop. I never asked for a pass.
July 3, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: Sure you did.
College Acquaintance One: Six months and you still want to argue. I think you have some problems.
July 4, 2016
College Acquaintance Two: What is that song---'I have one less problem without you? I have one less problem without you, one less, one less...."
And so, COLLEGE ACQUAINTANCE ONE was unceremoniously unfriended by COLLEGE ACQUAINTANCE TWO. And the sun set, then rose the next day, and then set the next day.....
The End