Morning Cake Walk

Every morning I walk my dog dodging the sea of black babysitters who are pushing their cream colored charges up an down the sidewalks of tony Riverdale. For several reasons this mammy parade never ceases to annoy me. The women always look like they are in a daze. I supposed I would be to if I had gone through the pain and hassle of immigration only to become "the help". I can't help but wonder what their children are doing while they are steering little poorly behaved Ian and Abby (much to old to be in a stroller, but becoming accustomed to luxury) 'round the block. At least they aren't as bad off as the women I see dubbed "mother's helpers" who accompany the worlds laziest mothers on local outings trailing three feet behind with baby SUV carriage and baggage in tow. But, you do what you have to do. I just wich they wouldn't avoid eye contact with me. Perhaps they sense my annoyance and perceive it as judgment. Maybe they are just tired. I don't know how they do it.

When I walk around I imagine people are surprised to see me without a white baby in a stroller or holding the hand of a feisty octogenarian in the care of the very people she moved here to get well away from back in the 6os. Very surprised. Even more surprised when they find out that I live here and (gasp) am not even a renter! Because I cannot speak to everyone I have decided that I will get a t-shirt printed reading

I am not a nanny/housekeeper/home health care aid

I can't wait to move. I can't change the negative socio-economic effects on people of color of this country but I still don't want to see it: the ostrich appraoch.