I’m still safeguarding my attorney’s 1990s era letter, which verified that a petition had been circulated to have me kicked out of my newly purchased condominium. However, no one signed the paper. The document’s existence was revealed by someone, who was playing “Town Cryer” as she passed my end unit. I was shocked.
“Housing discrimination is a serious problem in Michigan and throughout the country, and unfortunately situations like these are not uncommon,” said Vicki Levengood, Communications Director, Michigan Department of Civil Rights. It is important for people to know that if they are facing discrimination related to their housing they have the right to file a complaint, according to Levengood. “If the complaint is filed within 180 days, and the discrimination is on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, marital status, or familial status, we will investigate,” the Communications Director said. My friend, who faced harassment in a condo complex, said “It’s good that you are up for the fight.”
I thought I’d made my point abundantly clear, when a few days after moving into my new home, I slammed the front door on the principal dominator of the white female condominium board. However, nineteen years later I had to repeat myself. Combat began when I opened the door, and an unidentified woman said, “I’ll help you,” and attempted to barge in. I side-stepped and blocked her, and the door did the rest.
The second time she got up close and personal with the barrier because she showed up after badgering me with a dozen identical phone messages. She said, “You didn’t call for a ride to the annual meeting.” I thought, since 1994, haven’t you seen me driving my red and white Mustang, and recently a black Cavalier? “I don’t need a ride,” I said. Immediately, she morphed into warfare stance, and her face reddened and contorted. At any moment I expected to see her eyes bulge, and flames shooting out of holes in her head. I thought, Oh, no you don’t; no wayward white woman goes off on me. I stepped back, and slammed the door. When I ranted to my mechanic, he said “They think they own their condo and yours also.” I growled, “This woman acts as if somebody sold me to her.”
One humungous beast-woman gave me murderous looks whenever she saw me. Likewise, I’d halt, place my hands on my hips, and return the silent greeting. I imagined metamorphosing into Ms. Bodacious Black Bruiser, and tossing her into the trash receptacle. It seemed the dumpster was the site for silent confrontation. Once, from a distance, I saw Ms. Dominator’s second-in-command. I was carrying a large black trash bag. A few days later, the receptacle displayed a gigantic sign that ordered: “Place ONLY white trash bags in the dumpster.” I thought, did the landfill complain?
The childish couple next door hadn’t spoken to me since 9/11. Suddenly, two summers ago, as I closed the garage door Mrs. She-Devil cooed, “I hate you.” “Why don’t you move?” I told her where she could relocate, and walked away. But, as I approached my deck, the husband poked his head outside, and yelled, “whore.” Later, while standing near an open window, I overheard the wife talking on a cell phone. This poor man’s domestic diva said, “No, she didn’t back down.” “She got right up in my face.” I was certain I knew who she was testifying to. I called the police. The rookie said: “Wow, we never had to come here before.” “No, never, never…” He didn’t write a report. However, the department emailed me a form stating the date and time of the incident. That’s documentation.
Winter brought more indignities. One of the boss babes used the snow-blower, which everyone’s dues purchased, to clear all the sidewalks, except mine. When I called our financial management company about a refinance document, which needed a signature, the white male lackey slammed down the receiver after he rapid-fire shrieked abuse as if I were a squatter, an arsonist, undocumented foreigner, opioid-addict, suspected child-killer, and a Muslim terrorist. Ever since then, I’ve been paying my monthly dues by registered mail with a return receipt. Who knows what that filth-spewing, “bought and paid for,” “little big man” might attempt. If you believe you have been discriminated against contact www.michigan.gov/mdcr
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