The enrollment at the school that I work at is predominantly African American. I can recall many occasions in which I was having a conversation with a teacher or parent in regards to food, music, clothing, or names and comments in regards to me or my race were made.
Such comments include:
“Oh that is a typical “white” name” or “that is a white person’s outfit for sure”
Or “you like to eat that?”
Usually when such remarks are made I just casually laugh them off as not to make it a big deal. However, internal thoughts are usually first disbelief that such remarks are so causally thrown out there. Secondly, if the conversation was the other way around and I had said something like that what would have happened? Thirdly, I feel that some things are not just because of race but also because of where one grew up. For example, my mom and grandmother cooked a lot of southern foods growing up but also there were a lot of Italian and northern dishes as well. Foods we eat, the names we choose, and the clothes we wear are not only because of race but also because of the areas in which we live or have lived.
I think that as with many circumstances education can turn many situations around.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI have had several similiar experiences. In the beginning I was shocked. I could not believe some of the hurtful racist comments made about me. That was when I learned how racism is expressed by many races against others, not just caucasians against others. The people I worked with actually told me it was not racism because racism only affects African Americans. I could not believe the ignorance I was seeing displayed by college educated people. Unfortunately the climate at that job led me to seek employment somewhere else. I hope your coworker are more open to understanding how their comments are inappropriate.
Meredith