Friday, July 2, 2010

I WAS ATTACKED AND BEATEN BY A DIRTY EGYPTIAN!!!

Today makes the the second time that I've been attacked by nasty Egyptian men; Taxi drivers continuously trying to cheat me, women, and foreigners out of our money. This time, the Ali Baba taxi driver attacked me over 5 pounds! The charge for the taxi ride was 15 pounds. After we arrived back home from our destination, the effing nasty Egyptian taxi driver raised the price to 20 pounds.
My friend and I paid him his fare that we agreed on and he yelled, "What is this!!! You give me 20 pounds!" (But in Arabic) We told him no and that he knows 20 pounds is too much and he agreed on the 15 pound fare. Plus, we were charged the same 15 pound fare to initially get to our destination with another taxi, who was fair. As we walked away to enter our flat, the effing taxi grabbed my arm and snatched my sunglasses from my head. I turned to take them back from him and yelled, "What the hell are you doing? Give me my glasses!" He then pushed me, and I pushed him back. He then slapped me and I punched him back. He then kicked me, and I found a big rock on the ground and hit him in the chest with it. He then charged at me and put me in a head lock. I tried to break free, and I continued to hit him back. While all of this is going on, and my friend is yelling and screaming out of fear for him to stop, there are old men, old women, young men and boys, young women and girls, standing around watching and laughing. LAUGHING!

No one tried to help or intervene as this man was attacking a woman. I’m sure if I were an Egyptian, veiled woman, many if not all of them would have attacked him... furthermore, he would not have even thought to hit an Egyptian woman... whether she is veiled or not. This type of thievery, exploitation, discrimination or whatever you chose to call it, happens too many times that one expects this to happen. You get tired of these Egyptians trying to take advantage of you. Are they doing this because I'm woman? Are they doing this because I'm a Black woman, as the first thing that comes out of their filthy mouths is, "Hiya Sudani!" This means, “She’s from Sudan!" Which implies, "She's a Black, dirty woman from Africa (Black Africa, as they call it), and she's like trash, so I can treat her as I please."
Because, Sudanese people are refugees here in Cairo, they are treated as they are animals. The children are not allowed to attend Egyptian schools. They are charged triple the amount for housing and the housing conditions are below substandard. There is no healthcare for the Sudanese refugees, and they are normally beaten by the Egyptians, sometimes killed in the streets. When does this stop? The moment I pulled out my AMERICAN PASSPORT after the plain clothed, undercover police asked me for it, everyone changed their attitudes, and began to whisper, "Hiya Amerikiya" The dirty, filthy ali baba taxi began to lie. And simply because I hold an American passport, the police made him apologize. An apology?! Are you serious?! But what good is an APOLOGY after you beat and attack someone? If my passport was from Sudan or any Sub-Saharan country, I would have been dismissed as though I was trash. DON'T RESPECT ME SIMPLY BECAUSE I HOLD AN AMERICAN PASSPORT AND I AM AMERICAN, AS IT IS NOT ME YOU ARE RESPECTING. IT IS THE AMERICAN PASSPORT YOU ARE RESPECTING. YOU ARE NOT RESPECTING ME AS A HUMAN, AS A WOMAN... YOU ARE RESPECTING THIS AMERICAN IDEOLOGY AND THE TROUBLE YOU FEAR FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. The cowardly taxi driver tried to apologized, but I would not accept it. He laughed at me during the attack after he called me "Sudani", and I yelled and told him I was American. He laughed and called me "kabdaba" which means "liar".

Many silly Egyptians do not believe there are Black people in America...that only white people live there. And, if you are Black and "happen" to hold an American passport, then you somehow stole it, lied to the embassy, your parents moved to the US from either Nigeria or Sudan and got an American passport and helped you get one also. Sheer ignorance. The first attack was just the same, only I was attacked by two taxi drivers at once. Yes, I fought back, pressed charges and they were arrested. After I finished writing the report in the police station, the police and I returned to the scene and I pointed them out. Because, this sort of attack on us happens all the time, the stupid fools felt comfortable to remain in the same place laughing and talking about how they attacked me, not thinking that I would go to the police.



How does one counter such attack, counter such ignorance? Even when you understand, that, yes, these people are uneducated idiots, poor and hungry for money, that has not respect or regard for Black people. Do you brush it off and just accept it? Do you run away, leave the country because you know nothing will change? Hell NO!!! YOU FIGHT BACK! YOU PRESS CHARGES! YOU WRITE THE TAXI TAG NUMBER, HIS TAXI ID! YOU WRITE ABOUT SUCH BEHAVIORS AND BLAST IT SO THE WORLD WILL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE COUNTRIES…THE BEHAVOIRS THAT THEY TRY TO KEEP HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD. Each time you allow it to happen and do nothing, the more it will happen, and the attacks will get worse. Sure, many may think that nothing in going to happen. And you may be right! But unless you press charges and find out, you will never know.

I REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM! IM NOT A VICTIM IN THE U.S.! SO WHY THE HELL WILL I COME TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND PLAY VICTIM? NOT LOGICAL!

10 comments:

  1. I am so proud of you. I hate this happen to you. My moma and daddy did a wonderful job with you, because your not a punk. We need more strong individuals like you in this rat race called life. The only way change is affected is by speaking out. Be safe lil girl. Love ya....

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  2. Prick us will we not bleed, upset us and will we not react. You should be careful over there because soon even America cannot protect us. Start carrying out the slogan of America " Speak (walk) softly and carry a Big stick, hammer. etc. Don"t back down but also never turn your back thinking that words protect you when you have to protect yourself. _SEVEN

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  3. O wow! That's preposterous! I've always known you to stand up for yourself. However, what rights or laws are in place in Egypt for you to have ground on from a legal standpoint. Also, U need to start carrying a video camera, or a camera to record these events and take them to the American Embassy in Egypt. They are there to protect your human rights! Let me know if I can reach out to someone here in the states if you want to take it further. Dont stop speaking out, or fighting for your human rights. Peace

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  4. Thanks to all of you, Mala and the two "anonymous" replies. Your words are motivating, encouraging and supportive, and I do appreciate them.

    I will begin carrying my video recorder.

    AG Worldwide,

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  5. Hello AG,
    Very sorry that you had to face such a bad experience, it is unforgettable situation, but Egypt has a lot of good people that respect others and help them too, you were not lucky maybe to meet any of them but hopefully you will soon!! which should heal such scar of your memory.
    Good luck in your journey.

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  6. AG,

    props to you for taking a stand and defending yourself. people often come to Egypt with rose coloured glasses and thoughts of grandeur. I've realized that very little positivity comes from present day Egypt. Violence, harrasment, corruption, and bigotry reign supreme. I had the very same thing happen to me in the middle of the street and all the Egyptians just stopped there cars to watch. It was a white American guy who ran to my rescue from across the busy intersection! The useless cops who'd been standing around watching only came when the 2 Somali women who were with me told them I was American! The disregard for black women, especially the Sudanese, is disgusting. Like you, I've taken to fighting back and I'd advise any woman coming to Egypt to bring pepper spray

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  7. I dont know if you saw my taxi posts but I'd recommend that you take white cabs from now on. The meter makes life somewhat easier:
    http://bit.ly/b1XaKG
    my run-in w/a cabbie http://bit.ly/a4BdKT

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  8. I didn't know the Sudanese had it so hard in Egypt.

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  9. A girlfriend forwarded this blog to me because I had the pleasure of traveling to Egypt in March 2010. I had a wonderful time in Egypt. With that being said, there were a few things that I noticed that left me somewhat perplexed. For example,the need for our tour bus to actually have a armed guard with us while traveling in Cairo. Once outside of Cairo, we didn't have a need for an armed guard. We were told that some tourist were harmed in Cairo and the government made it a requirement that tour companies employee an armed guard at all times while in operating in Cairo.

    Overall, the men and children where very nice to me. On the other hand, the women were so...so. In all fairness, I was in Egypt for about 8 day opposed to your stay which appear to be much longer.

    Your preception of how Egyptians think about the cultural diversity in America is disturbing, but appear to be somewhat accurate. During my visit, many Eygtians approached me and asked if I was from the UK. When I replied "no, I am American" they would put their arm next to mine and reply..."But, you look me." I would simply flash a smile and reply.."Yes." Knowing that many Africans migrate to the UK, I was well aware of why their initial thoughts were that I with my curly hair and brown skin was from the UK. With thoughts of your story in mind, I now understand why almost every Egyptian that I encountered was surprised that I and my associates were from America.

    I read your blog out loud while video conferencing with an Egyptian associate. The anger that I expressed was more than shocking for my associate who tried desperately to explain that all Egyptians are not like those that you encountered; especially those outside of Cairo. So, I sent the link of another blog that the same girl friend who sent me your's forwarded.


    My exposure was so limited, I really had no clue about any of the circumstances that you wrote about. So, thank you for writing such an insightful and eye-opening blog. I still think my travel to Egypt was memorable and would suggest that others visit as the history and natural wonders of the world that reside in Egypt are simply amazing. The difference in my thoughts since my own travel and reading various blogs is that I would highly recommend Americans, in particular Black American women, educate themselves a bit more than I (beyond the basics) did prior to departure.

    As I stated to the friend who so nicely forward me your blog, don't let my story or anyone's story create enough fear that one would make the decision not to do something (persuasion is a powerful tool). The key is to be educated, which I assume is the purpose of this and many stories. As Black American women, if we allow for fear and ignorant behavior to stiffle us from exploring the world through travel, we will in essence miss the opportunity to inspire others and expand our personal,mental and sometimes spiritual growth.

    Thank you again for sharing your story. I wish much peace to you as you continue your journey and exploration of the world.

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  10. Hey A.G.

    I'm so proud of you. I feel the same way abuot not playing the victim here, since I don't to it in the States. My friends here (all white males) tell me constantly that I'm overreacting and should just ignore the way people treat me... they're poor... they're uneducated... they don't know any better...

    however, these are no excuses... children don't know better until we teach them the right way to act, and I will educated every person I come in contact with if I have to. I will NOT ACCEPT AND CONDONE their behavior.

    I was in Khan during Eid at the end of Ramadan. A man approached me girating his hips and grabbing at my breasts. I turned to walk to other way and he jumped in front of me as to prevent me from escaping. I yelled "Laa" and turned the other way one more time. He began yelling out "What's the matter, you don't like Brown Sugar?" So, I marched right back to him and PUNCHED HIM DEAD IN HIS NOSE!! There was a LOUD crack, and I yelled to him in Arabic: "Alla sees and knows everything!"

    Of course the market was full of people, especially since it was a holiday. However, NO BODY did or said anything to him, not even my two friends (white male, and germ female) who were with me.

    I don't know many African Americans here in Cairo, which forces me to keep my fears and opinions internal. I've tried to explain the way I feel to my friends here, but they don't understand. It's good to hear other sistas' stories, as it lets me know that I'm not alone.

    Thanks for sharing. Also, I carry a small swiss-army knife with me all the time... especially when I take taxis.

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