A Filipino American school nurse was called a “g**k” by an elderly man while he was out doing deliveries during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kyle Navarro shared on Twitter that the school’s staff has been providing deliveries of medicines, groceries, and more to students and their families affected by the stay at home order during the outbreak, AsAm News reported.
For context: I’m a School Nurse and amidst this current quarantine situation our school’s staff are delivering groceries, meds, etc. to our families/students – who all have a high level of need – and as I was unlocking my bicycle post-drop off all that happened.
— Kyle Navarro, MS-HP, BSN, RN, PHN (@TheRNKyle) March 24, 2020
Navarro reportedly encountered an elderly White man who spat at him and called him a “g**k.” He was also comforted by a “lola” (Tagalog word for grandmother) after the incident.
“To the racist older white man who spat at me & called me a “g**k” as I was delivering prescriptions to a family: No thank you,” he wrote in his tweet. “To the Lola who asked after how I was: I let you know, but you have no idea how much I needed that.”
To the racist older white man who spat at me & called me a “g**k” as I was delivering prescriptions to a family: No thank you
To the Lola who asked after how I was: I let you know, but you have no idea how much I needed that
Processing: Angry, saddened, & honoring my feelings.
— Kyle Navarro, MS-HP, BSN, RN, PHN (@TheRNKyle) March 24, 2020
In the post, Navarro acknowledges communities of color as well as the LGBTQ+ community, who all have been experiencing the same hatred for ages.
It’s important to honor the very real reactions of myself and other Asians & Asian Americans to this racism, but also want to acknowledge that this is the kinda shit Black & Brown folx have been experiencing for ages. Even more so to those of queer &/or trans identities.
— Kyle Navarro, MS-HP, BSN, RN, PHN (@TheRNKyle) March 24, 2020
Navarro also reminded everyone to call out any hateful remarks, not just towards the Asian community, but to the Black and queer communities as well.
That being said – this should be a reminder to people, especially Asians/Asian Americans, to call out racist BS when you see it before, during, and after this COVID-19 pandemic. Call out the antiblack, anti queer, classist, colorist, etc. behaviors w your fam, friends, & self.
— Kyle Navarro, MS-HP, BSN, RN, PHN (@TheRNKyle) March 24, 2020
Feature Image via @thernkyle