(This is a bit of a hijack because this has nothing to do with blacks at all. And because its tone is kinda serious. :))
Y’know, a lot of the time, when strangers say “hello” to me out of the blue, I usually find it very condescending. Because they usually follow it up with questions and statements that are meant to be jokes at my expense. And when I call them on it, it’s because I’ve got no sense of humor, because, y’know, they’re just messing around.
It’s like when some people I deal with at the supermarket or other service areas make little jokes, like saying “oh, I’m sorry, we lost your money” at the bank or something (sorry I can’t think of a better example). Sure, it’s a joke, and sure, it’s harmless, but it tells me that they don’t take me seriously. Maybe it’s because I look young for my age. But I’ve been condescended to for too much of my life not to get kinda pissed at it…
I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I seeeeeeee
I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see
And after I kill all the whities I see
There won’t be no white boys to bother meeeeeeeee
I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see!
The Beaver’s Mum in ‘Airplane’ as a jive translator…
I am a wee pink girl, and my guitar tech a wonderful gentleman of Jamaican descent, and he adores horrifying the old ladies by introducing himself as my ‘brother from another mother…’
Sounds like you’re wound a bit tight leaper. Relax, the world is not out to get you. I failed to see how your bank example was the least bit condecsending. You sound like a real party to be around…
As a Black woman that knows several Black males, I would have to say that the Black men in question are trying to appear less threatening as possible.
I have to admit, sometimes I smile at white people so that they don’t think i have “Angry Black Woman Syndrome” otherwise known as ABWS. I want to leave them thinking that not all us Black women wiggle our necks, snap our fingers and say ‘You go girl!’ at the end of everything.
I believe that vivian, sad as it is. My coworker is African-American and she’ll speak with wineries over the phone for work related things and when she shows up, they always seem suprised that she’s black. Apparently, she doesn’t “sound” black.
Me, too, viv. I don’t want to come off as having Angry Black Woman Syndome. Much like the fat person that wants to enjoy the occasional doughnut without getting all kinds of dirty looks, I want to be pissed off every once in a fucking while.
One day, I swear, I’m going to grow up, stop giving a fuck about what people think and walk around with a scowl on my face, a fried chicken wing in one hand and a slice of watermelon in the other.
Did I mention I won’t eat fried chicken in public? How sad is that?
it happens to me all the time. interviews, meetings, whatever…
For example…
I work for an e-health company dealing with doctors and their patients. One doctor called in and asked about other doctor demographics, and i mentioned a doctor we had in a pre. dom Black area. He started going on and on and on about Black people as patients. Asking if i’ve ever dealt with them and “how do I do it”
That has happened to me on more than one occasion. It’s so eye-opening. I mean, you wonder what the bigots are saying about you behind your back but when you find out you just wish you never knew…
That has to be the funniest post I’ve read today. I have this visual of a bunch of black women walking down the street scowling at me, eating fried chicken and clicking their fingers saying “You go girl!”.
That post had me cracking up as well. Excellent visual. I remember being at a Memorial Day BBQ, I was the only white person there. There were about 20 or so people. I’m usually the only white person amongst this particular group of friends so I usually get all the “white” jokes directed at me. I like to think I’ve got a good sense of humor though, so it doesn’t bother me. So anyway, this one girl (who’s half white) was sitting there and someone noticed she didn’t have any watermelon on her plate. Someone asked what was up with that, when she said she didn’t like watermelon, I swear to Og the whole damn backyard FROZE.
“What you MEAN you don’t like WATERMELON??”
“Ah girl, that’s the white in her”
Of course I had to chime in then and say “HEY! I like watermelon!”
I don’t like watermelon either but I keep that shit on the DL. Between that, my affinity for NuMetal and the SSN thing, I keep dreading the day I’ll receive a letter in the mail that begins, “Dear Ms. Tech, We regret to inform you we’ll be revoking your membership with us. Please return your membership card using the self-addressed, stamped envelope provided…”
