You might remember Ruby Nell Howell’s story. She is a white woman who was employed by Kampgrounds of America in Starkville, Mississippi. They location is one of hundreds of privately owned KOA public campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada, where people can picnic, rent a cabin, and so on.
Anyway. When Howell saw a black couple, Jessica and Franklin Richardson, and their dog on the grounds, she told them they needed a reservation. While there are conflicting reports on whether a reservation is actually needed, that, in itself, isn’t newsworthy.
The newsworthy part is that she pulled a gun out. Over a reservation.
Richardson filmed the interaction and it went viral on social media. Obviously, a lot of people see a racist element in this story. Meaning: It’s hard to believe Howell would have pulled a gun out to ask a white couple to leave, whether a reservation was really required or not. The entire interaction reeks of implicit racial bias. And while no one was harmed physically, it’s still terrifying and traumatic to have someone pull a gun on you while you’re looking for a spot to picnic.
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