So, as a white woman that doesn't wear a head covering, I can travel just about anywhere with issue or with minimal issues.
Today on the ICE train, I sat down in the family/quiet car for my trip home. There was a set of 4 seats and a table in front of me with a white (maybe British) woman sitting in that area. In comes a woman carrying a child and wearing a head scarf, mind you she has paler skin than me. This scarf is beautiful and wrapped in a way that could be a religious covering or just a way to cover her hair to keep it in place (kind of my ladies did to work in the yard/home back in the day). This woman (sans scarf) told the woman wearing a scarf, "Sit somewhere else. I'm not comfortable you sitting near me." Woman (with scarf) said she had a reservation for that particular seat and sat down. Woman (sans scarf) got up and left. Good. So I peaked around the seat, looked at the woman, smiled and waved in a "I got you" kind of manner. Because of the language barrier, I wasn't sure what I could say to help her feel comfortable traveling alone. This made my heart heavy and sad to witness. I'm glad it wasn't more hostile as it could have been.
Friends, when traveling, please remember to be kind to one another. Traveling is stressful. Traveling alone with a little one can be even more stressful. Travelling alone with a little one and a society that hates you for your religion can be down right brutal.
We don't know each other stories... what someone has gone through or is going through. Be kind.
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