I was working a temporary assignment on MLK BD. I am a light skinned black female, and was working in a small all white business. One of the (white) salesmen walked up to me smiling and saying good morning then said, "Don't take any stuff off of them, they just a bunch of rednecks". I was taken by surprise and simply responded, "They seem like nice people". I've wondered since if he was trying to be funny, or if he was making a point since it was MLK's BD. What do you think and what would you have said?
2007-01-18T22:21:58Z
To explain, I stated I am light skinned because others sometimes have a difficult time telling if I am Black, Hispanic, a darker skinned Caucasian, or Pakistani (?, that one surprised me). I will not be working at this site again, I just thought this might be interesting for discussion.
Anonymous2007-01-18T21:45:06Z
Favorite Answer
It is hard to say, I would have to know the people... But one thing is for sure... time will tell...
Malcolm X said, "don't judge a man by what he says, judge by his deeds".
By how they treat you over time you will discover the answer... until then, don't trip. Just be an example of excellence to all your co-workers...
That's absolutely scary! Something prompted this man to walk up to you and make this statement. Immediately, I thought to myself that he might of left a group of your co-workers that have said some very unkind things towards you. It seems like he was trying to give you a hint... ... or was he testing you? did he want to see if you'd be upset at the use of the term redneck? you failed the test if you did not give him a sharp reproof...
I don't think he was being racist. But, take a good look at yourself. You describe yourself as a "light skinned black" female. To me that indicates that you have some issues with your own ethnicity. Accept yourself for the wonderful person you are, and you will have a wonderful future. Remember, we all belong to only one race - the human race.
I would have asked him what he was talking about. I would have said to him, "just what are you telling me? I don't understand what you are saying." And I would be staring at him eye to eye. And then I would have said, "what do you mean by "stuff" and who are you calling "rednecks"?
I wouldn't waste my time or energy trying to figure out what he was thinking. But, as I said, I would have backed him in a corner.