Are you serious???

Okay, so I know I haven't been posting on BAF that much lately but I'm still here. I had a situation yesterday at work that left me short on words....I wasn't mad but I was caught off guard. I work around alot of Veterans, this one older guy came in yesterday and he was so nice.....we talked about various things, nothing to raise my eyebrows about just friendly conversation. Then, right before he walked out the door her says:

Him: Are you surprise the you Negro's got into the White House?
Me: Huh?
Him: Yeah, I didn't think we would let  you Negro's run the White House, I guess it's because you people are good at fighting for your rights.
Me: ~silent~
Him: Well, it could be worst....we could have chosen a Mexican! Well, you have a good day young lady!
Me: You too sir

I sooo do not have conversations about race, religion or politics while working out here but it's been sooooo long since I've even heard the word Negro being used....let alone be referred to as one . Not only that but he wasn't blind I know he could see that I was African American?!?! I told my husband and he wasn't to happy about it and said that I should have said something to him but I honestly don't think he was trying to be mean at all I just think he was short on tact......a serious case of lack, if you will.

Would you have responded or not?

WOW.....I think you handled that perfectly...being at the workplace and all.....SMH

Hey Mrs Trina Happy New Year


All I can say is wow!  It doesn't surprise me though.  I guess he didn't see anything wrong with what he said; but if you had've came back as ignorant as he came at you he would've thought you were wrong. 

Girl I am sitting here with my mouth open; like I was there!!!!     I am learning to be passive; I would have done like you did and not responded!

I would have said something.  I don't care if he's older or not--WTF.  Was that supposed to be a back-handed compliment? 

Ignorance is going to continue as long as people don't know that it offends. 

I once had a similar situation in college.  My landlord came over asking if the "colored" girl was home.  I responded that no she wasn't and hadn't been colored for years. 

Point was taken.

As I have grown up, I realize that there are so many people in the world that do not even know that they are racist. It's crazy. I worked at a popular night club in my area where the patrons are like 99.7% black. The owners are white and obviously racist. The general manager is ignorant to the fact that he is a racist too. Sometimes we have a buffet and he was asking my opinion of what to add to the buffett. I suggested he add fruit. He actually said to me, "Why, black people don't eat fruit." Another day we were trying to get into the office on a busy night and it was a group of people standing in front of the door. He kept saying excuse me and they finally moved. Once we were in the office, he said to me, "I swear, Tiffany. If you look in the dictionary under stupid you would see Black people!"  I was stupified!!! I know I am like super pale but it is obvious that I am Black!!!! I just looked at him in amazement and just said a silent prayer for him.

Tiffany. If you look in the dictionary under stupid you would see Black people!"  I was stupified!!! I know I am like super pale but it is obvious that I am Black!!!! I just looked at him in amazement and just said a silent prayer for him.


Girl....did the silent prayer go something like this????...... "Lord please help me not to stomp a mudhole into this dumb mutha fucca's ass???"

Girl yes. But he was so pitiful and pathetic anyway. He was always sick and had sores all over him that wouldn't even heal. He had some other **** going on in his life so his opinion was obsolete. But it still through me for a loop.

I am afro american too, but being honest with you ,I am pretty sure I would have done exactly as you did right down to going home from work and telling my husband.I really don't have quick when I am in shock.

Believe me, I am quick with a come back and I would have responded somethign like this (Ms Ang will verify my ability to comeback at some fool with the quickness)

Him: Are you surprise the you Negro's got into the White House?
Me: Obvisious not as surprise as YOU

Him: Yeah, I didn't think we would let  you Negro's run the White House, I guess it's because you people are good at fighting for your rights.
Me: Isn't this a wonderful world that WE live in???


Him: Well, it could be worst....we could have chosen a Mexican! Well, you have a good day young lady!
Me: Yea it could have been worst...Bush could be in there for a third term and my day can only get better and better up to Jan 20

Because of the fact that this was an older man (probably in his sixties or older?), its not surprising that he still used the word "Negro".  

Some people truly don't see themselves as being racist, even though they are; its just their mindset, I guess. 

As for not getting angry, you did the right thing.  But was your husband angry because he used the word "negro"? 

The thing is, some non-blacks feel "entitled" to use variations on "Negro"  because many of us so often do so ourselves.  Does that justify the usage? No, it doesn't.