The Way Eye See it

By Antoinette Davis

Brandi Davis is struggling with how to deal with the injustice that's happening to African Americans in America and she is determined to have her voice heard to make a difference. Love and family can wait because Brandi has her eyes set on a career that puts her in a position to make changes for the better but her career starts to hit a snag when she unable to control her prejudices in the workplace. Finally, she has her dream job; she's now working as the Assistant to the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, and City hall will never be the same. Brandi becomes the Mayor's campaign manager and all is well until she finds out the first African American mayor of Jackson, Mississippi is a crook and he's been stealing from the city.

Marriage was the furthest thing from Brandi's mine, not because there hasn't been in opportunities but because there really hasn't been time for love. Now that time is ticking and loneliness is at her front door; Brandi decides to settle down and give love and a family a chance. Family and friends try to deal with Brandi's prejudices but it'll take a miracle to make her see love instead of hate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ARD Writing with you in Mind
• Release date: Dec 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393835592

Book preview

PRELUDE

Brandi Davis has just stepped into the limelight after graduating from Jackson State University a Black Historical College in the Deep South.  Her master’s degree in political science and a Bachelor's in communications have landed her, her dream job at WBLT news in Jackson, MS. 

Brandi has seen racism up close and personal growing up in Mississippi, and she knows firsthand the injustice that African Americans in the Deep South endure every day. 

In 1997, a white man murdered her father and the courts found him not guilty after a hung jury, and a racist system ruled the murder as self-defense.

The scene of the funeral plays out in her head as well as the riots and protests in the streets of Jackson.

Brandi is ready to take on Mississippi’s politicians and judicial system and she’s going to make sure the world watches as she does it.

Brandi Davis

I did not start his way; I was an innocent little brown skin girl when tragedy hit my family. In 1997, my father lay dead in the streets of Jackson, Mississippi because he defended his wife’s honor.  The system devalued my father’s life by letting a white man walk free and ruling my father’s murder was justified.

Losing my father to a bullet shot from the gun of a white racist can make a young brown skin girl grow bitter and broken and the way I see it, that’s the intent of the white privileged.

Chapter 1

GETTING MY FEET WET

It’s Friday afternoon and Brandi has just returned home from her kickboxing class when her cell phone rings and its WBLT news station human resources giving her the best news of her life.  Brandi Davis will now be the face on the streets reporting the news as a field reporter.

Brandi was excited, she danced around her condominium. Oh, thank you, Jesus, this is the big start I’ve been waiting for.  She’s been an intern for the news station since her final year of college.

"Oh, yea now I can have some real health benefits, and just in time before my Obamacare runs out.

All of a sudden, Brandi hears someone at her front door, but it’s not a knock at the door.  Brandi tiptoes over to the door and looks out of the peephole, however, it’s covered up. She takes a deep breath and quickly opens the door.  She looks around and doesn’t see anyone, then she looks at her peephole and it’s a yellow paper, a late notice. Oh shit, I forgot to pay my rent.

Brandi looks at her watch and then grabs her purse and slips some shoes on, I hope I can make it down there before it closes.

Brandi steps off the elevator looks to her left and sees Ms. Brooks is still in the rental office, Oh I just made it.

Ms. Brooks walks over to the door to lock it just as Brandi has her hands on the door to push it open.

Ms. Brooks I need to come in and pay my rent, Brandi yells through the door.

Ms. Brooks lowers her glasses and looks at Brandi with a cold stare, we’re closed.

Brandi thinks to herself, This beehive-wearing old white lady better let me in this office to pay my rent. Brandi gives her a cold stare back.

Ms. Brooks turns the key and walks away from the door, never saying a word to Brandi.

Just as Brandi was about to bang on the door, and curse Ms. Brooks out; her neighbor Mr. Harry walks up to her.

Brandi, are they still in there?

Brandi rolls her eyes; No the witch just locked the door.

Harry, with a cane in hand, walks over to the rental office door and taps on it.

Ms. Brooks looks up over her bifocals; she walks over to the door with a smile and unlocks the door, Harry Hello,

Ms. Brooks didn’t see Brandi standing behind Harry.

Brandi jumps from behind Harry and she is piping hot mad; before she can catch herself, she starts yelling at Ms. Brooks, Why did you open the door for him and not me!

Ms. Brooks is startled and at a loss for words, she looks at Harry.

Harry hunches his shoulders while looking back and forth between Ms. Brooks and Brandi.

This young lady was standing here before I was so you can help her first.

Brandi doesn’t know whether to thank the old white man or not.

I want to pay my rent. Brandi hands her check to Ms. Brooks

Ms. Brooks doesn’t reach for the check, Well, I’m sorry I have closed the books for the day, besides, you’re already late. Ms. Brooks throws the attitude right back.

Brandi is determined to pay her rent, Look here, lady you can take my rent today, Brandi hands her the check."

Harry fixated his eyes on Ms. Brook’s every move and word and she notices him watching her.

I’ll take it this time Brandi,

Brandi interrupts her, My name is Ms. Davis.

Ms. Brooks is fuming so much that the hairspray holding her beehive hairdo together is losing its hold.

Ms. Davis, you will need to be on time with your rent from now on.

Brandi knows Ms. Brooks is trying to embarrass her, I was late because I was celebrating my new promotion at WBLT news but I can assure you with the money I’ll be making; I’ll be moving real soon into my new house.

Congratulations Ms. Davis, you know I watch that news.  I can’t wait to see you on television and I’ll tell all of my friends that I know somebody famous.

Ms. Brooks has no choice but to unpuff her chest and retreat behind her desk with embarrassment.

With a big smile and showing her pearly white teeth, Brandi smiles at Harry. Thank you, Harry.

Brandi turns to walk away.

Ms. Brooks waits until she thinks Brandi is out of hearing range before she speaks, I can’t stand those niggers.

Harry has a stupid look on his face and the gray hairs above his wrinkle lips stand out.

Ms. Brooks ignores his strange look and continues talking while walking back to her desk, Who does she think she is coming into my office talking junk to me?

Brandi sticks her head out from around the corner.

Ms. Brooks has her back to Brandi and Harry.

The nigger heard you.

Ms. Brooks turns quickly and places her hand over her heart, Oh sweet Jesus, you scared me, you. Ms. Brooks is embarrassed and at a loss for words once again.

Everything inside of Brandi wants to rip her ass apart, you better hope you still have a job tomorrow. Brandi leaves it at that and walks away besides she wasn’t going to let Ms. Brooks's racist ass kill her joy of being promoted. She starts to think about the look on Ms. Brooks’s face and laughs aloud, "

Brandi steps onto the elevator and pushes the button to her floor; she’s still reeling from the episode with Mrs. Brook.  The elevator stops at the parking garage and on steps a white girl who Brandi has seen in passing before.

Neither of them greets one another nor do they acknowledge each other with a glance; instead, they both look straight ahead.

The elevator stops again and another white girl steps onto the elevator; immediately she smiles at the white woman but doesn’t acknowledge Brandi.

Brandi chuckles

The two women are standing next to each other, How are you, says one woman.

I’m fine and you.

Brandi can’t believe the two of them are treating her as if she’s not on the elevator.

The last woman stepped on has reached her floor and prepares to exit however, right before she steps off, she turns to the other white woman and says, Have a nice day, and steps off.  She never acknowledges Brandi’s presence.

Two racists bi^tches, Brandi says to herself.

Once the elevator closed, it felt awkward to Brandi, and Brandi being the type of person who cannot resist confrontation just had to confront the woman about what just happened.

Brandi turned to the woman who appeared to be in her early 30’s, Was there a reason you gave her a smile and conversation when she stepped on but didn’t acknowledge me when you stepped on the elevator.

The woman’s face turned pale instantly; she turned to Brandi, I’m sorry, what did you just ask me?

Brandi immediately responded back to the look of fear on the woman’s face, Oh Miss please I’m not going to hurt you; you all always think we’re going to hurt you or fight you. Brandi says in a sarcastic tone.

The woman looks relieved and then uses a sarcastic tone with Brandi, You didn’t speak to me either nor did you smile so why should I.

Brandi was already pissed by Ms. Brooks’s attitude toward her so she’s ready for a fight.

Besides, I watch the news and I see the crime your people do to each other and others."

Brandi turns her body around to face the woman and no matter how much she wants to remain calm, she cannot. First, she gives her a drop-down look; to check her out very quickly, I guess you only watch FOX News.

The woman looks at Brandi and then turns her nose up at her. I don’t know what you’re talking about lady. She glances up at the elevator panel to see if her floor is next.

Brandi is furious; she wants to push the stop button on the elevator so bad.  I guess the white man who just killed fifty-nine people, innocent people, while they were enjoying a concert is not considered a crime because he was white. Brandi looks at the woman waiting for her to answer so she can fire back.

The woman moves slightly to the left away from Brandi.

Brandi looks down at the elevator panel and her floor is next. 

Oh and let’s not forget, Columbine and the gay nightclub in Florida that your, (Brandi emphasizes the word your) people shot up."

The woman is becoming noticeably uncomfortable but Brandi doesn’t care.

The woman looks straight ahead, as she tries to ignore the conversation; she reaches inside her purse.

Brandi’s eyes pop open, Oh shit she might have a gun or Taser. I better chill out, Brandi thinks to herself.

The door opened on Brandi’s floor; Brandi had one foot out of the door when the woman introduced herself.

You were right I should have introduced myself, I’m Marci.  She smiled and extended her arm for a handshake.

Brandi looked down at her hand and decided not to shake her hand however, she does give her name, and I’m Brandi.

Brandi stepped off the elevator just before the doors closed.

Have a nice day, Marci yelled as the elevator doors were closing.

Yeah whatever, Brandi walked down to her apartment, you have a nice day Brandi mimics Marci using a high-pitched tone.

Marci rode up to the tenth floor, talking on her cell phone and shaking her head, "You won’t believe this black chick I just encountered.  I swear they can be too much.

Chapter 2

THE WAY EYE SEE IT

Brandi has been in her new position at WBLT for two months and it’s not what she expected at all.  She thought she would be covering politics and crime but instead, they have assigned her to trivial assignments, and this has her frustrated and pissed off.  In Brandi’s mind, she has already crawled into the business and now she’s ready to walk and run.

Brandi barely slept the night before her debut as a field reporter; her anxiety had her up peeing all night.

Brandi arrived at WBLT forty-five minutes before her shift begins and as much as she hates to admit it she really wants to impress everyone and that includes Lester. 

Brandi walks into the lunchroom to grab a cup of coffee before heading out with her assigned news crew.

Melanie, another field reporter, walks up to Brandi, Hi Brandi.

Brandi looks at Melanie and smiles a little. Why are white people so damn cheerful all the time, Brandi says to herself.  

Hello

Melanie sips her tea and then takes a few steps closer to Brandi.

Brandi looks up from stirring her coffee, yes, can I help you?

Melanie starts to whisper, I heard that Stacy is leaving the station, so you know what that means.

Brandi stands up straight from the counter and takes a sip of her scorching hot coffee.  She looks at Melanie with a blank stare, No, what does that mean, Melanie?

Oh Brandi, you are so silly, Melanie laughs.

Brandi does not like when someone refers to her as being silly; she takes that as an insult especially coming from a white person.

Brandi walks away from Melanie, takes a seat at one of the tables in the break room, and continues sipping her coffee.

Melanie walks over, pulls a chair out right next to Brandi, and starts talking, Brandi someone has to replace her, and since I’ve been in the field the longest I know they are going to offer it to me. Melanie crosses her legs and sips her tea.

Brandi looks up from her coffee, Melanie you’re starting to annoy me, and don’t ever call me silly again, everything about Brandi’s tone lets Melanie know just where she stands with Brandi.

Melanie ignored what she calls a black girl attitude.  Once I’m promoted, there’s a good chance that you may get my position.

Brandi tried to remain calm; she took another sip of her coffee, do you really believe you’re the best qualified for the position?

Melanie chuckled, Yes, who else would they give it to?

That statement was the icing on Brandi's patience for Melanie.   Brandi stands up and smooths out the wrinkles from her skirt, Good luck Melanie. Brandi walks out of the lunchroom noticeably annoyed and shaking her head.

Melanie jumps up and quickly runs up behind Brandi. Excuse me,

Brandi is startled, "is this bitch crazy?’ Brandi says to herself.

Melanie looks upset, I want to know why you said that?

Brandi continues to remain calm, Are you asking me or demanding me to give you an answer?

Melanie slightly raises her voice, and it catches the attention of their co-workers who are within hearing distance, I’m asking.

If I kissed as much butt around here as you do, I would probably think I had the position too.  However, I would rather work to get what I want so I can keep it. Brandi winks her eye at Melanie.

Melanie is insulted, Are you saying that I didn’t work for my promotions!

Now they have the attention of everyone who can hear them, That’s exactly what I’m saying, everyone around here talks about you, and we laugh behind your back. Brandi is lying to keep Melanie upset.

She sees a white woman on the elevator, hold the door, please. Brandi runs.

The woman does not attempt to hold the door for Brandi and this pisses her off.

You white bitch, yells Brandi as the doors close and she knows they heard her, Ohhhh I hate you people!

Luckily she does not have to wait long before another elevator comes; she steps onto the elevator, turns around and she sees a white woman hurrying to the elevator. The woman spots Brandi and slows