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Any occurrences of being possibly racist in the work place?

Posted on 12/28/16 at 9:29 am
Posted by GameCocky88
Mount Pleasant, SC
Member since Dec 2015
4837 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 9:29 am
So we are in a sales meeting at the office today when for some reason the topic of Howard University comes up. A coworker who is from the DC area said that he never heard of it. When I explain that it is an HBC, and one of the more prominent ones at that, another coworker chimes in with his two cents. Trying to add to the conversation, this guy says "You know, historical black colleges, like Brown!" Now I can't tell if this guy was just remarking on race or not because he seemed to genuinely think that instead of being an Ivy League institution, that Brown was legitimately an HBC, but either way I was rolling laughing.

Also, does it make it less possibly racist that the guy thinking Brown was an HBC is Asian?
This post was edited on 12/28/16 at 9:30 am
Posted by mizslu314
Dirty STL
Member since Sep 2013
15959 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 9:45 am to
pre-2016 that's hilarious.

2016- not funny, he's a racist pos who should die.
This post was edited on 12/28/16 at 9:46 am
Posted by Carolina Tide
Atlanta
Member since Jul 2013
5747 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 10:33 am to
I think he was just joking.

Either way it wasn't racist.
Posted by BlackHelicopterPilot
Top secret lab
Member since Feb 2004
52833 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 10:35 am to
Posted by TbirdSpur2010
ALAMO CITY
Member since Dec 2010
134026 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 10:50 am to
Nah, actually kinda funny he thought Brown was actually a HBCU
Posted by Evolved Simian
Bushwood Country Club
Member since Sep 2010
20470 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 11:29 am to
Not racism, but you have two pretty dumb coworkers.
Posted by El Campo Tiger
El Campo, TX
Member since Mar 2015
10118 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 12:05 pm to
I told a Lil Johnny joke that didn't go over to well.


Posted by GameCocky88
Mount Pleasant, SC
Member since Dec 2015
4837 posts
Posted on 12/28/16 at 12:09 pm to
They guy was stone cold serious.
Posted by AirDawg
The Great State of Calm
Member since Feb 2013
2015 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 12:33 am to
How many people that identify as the race in question have to agree it's not racist in order for the comment in question to be rendered harmless? My understanding is that it doesn't matter how many people say it's okay, it only takes one person to contradict everyone and become offended and that guy is screwed.

I miss mature thick skinned people.
Posted by TbirdSpur2010
ALAMO CITY
Member since Dec 2010
134026 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 8:13 am to
quote:

How many people that identify as the race in question have to agree it's not racist in order for the comment in question to be rendered harmless?


Not sure. I identify as Texan-American
Posted by GameCocky88
Mount Pleasant, SC
Member since Dec 2015
4837 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 9:55 am to
TBH, I wasn't really claiming that it was indeed racist or that the prevailing view would be that it is. I was really more so trying to illicit other tales from posters of times when they heard someone say something in the work place that left them thinking to themselves "Man, that could be racist."

I have plenty of stories of the blatant nature in the workplace, but those lack humor.
Posted by I Bleed Garnet
Cullman, AL
Member since Jul 2011
54846 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 11:37 am to
quote:

Not racism, but you have two pretty dumb coworkers.


This
Posted by PhilipMarlowe
Member since Mar 2013
20474 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 3:33 pm to
thanks trump.
Posted by TbirdSpur2010
ALAMO CITY
Member since Dec 2010
134026 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 5:09 pm to
I see what you're trying to do, but you gotta be more original with it, bruh
Posted by AirDawg
The Great State of Calm
Member since Feb 2013
2015 posts
Posted on 12/29/16 at 8:45 pm to
There is an office in my building that take turns bringing in food around Christmas time. Well around that time, I heard a recent story about a guy talking to a co-worker while eating. This co- worker is Asian (Korean) and on this day brought in the food they were eating. The guy is retired Army (They are friends) and had spent a lot of time in Korea and he says to his co-worker, "So is this dog?" The Co-worker says, "No the neighborhood is all out!" They laugh.

Is it racist?

Later the guy is called in by Management and if his buddy / co-worker had not said it didn't offend him he would have received his walking papers.
Posted by MIZ_COU
I'm right here
Member since Oct 2013
13771 posts
Posted on 12/31/16 at 12:28 am to
well that's the bottom of the social ladder
Posted by Pavoloco83
Acworth Ga. too many damn dawgs
Member since Nov 2013
15347 posts
Posted on 12/31/16 at 9:09 am to
I have had one very awkward incident regarding race.

Several years ago, back when I used to smoke, I was cutting up with a black security guard in our building who was a friend of mine. We were standing on the back loading dock of our building smoking. he said something related to "Training Day" movie. I responded with "My N@gga", which was something Denzel said a few times in the movie to the white guy played by Ethan Hawke.

Some other black guys were on the dock and heard me. Shite almost got real for a second, until my friend jumped in and said "hey he's just kidding around about the movie". Very awkward. Never ever said those words again, despite fact that the bros said it all the time.
Posted by TbirdSpur2010
ALAMO CITY
Member since Dec 2010
134026 posts
Posted on 12/31/16 at 12:14 pm to
Gotta know your audience very well before using that terminology. I have some white and latino friends who use it all the time on the basketball court and in general in our group and no one bats and eye--it's part of our accepted vernacular and not used as a pejorative.

And I have some black fiends who I wouldn't use it around if my life depended on it

Personally the term itself never bothered me--it always depends on context.
Posted by Pavoloco83
Acworth Ga. too many damn dawgs
Member since Nov 2013
15347 posts
Posted on 12/31/16 at 12:37 pm to
Well around my buddy, it wouldnt have been a problem. it was the other two guys who overheard the conversation out of context. Still as a white dude, I stay away from it now.
Posted by TbirdSpur2010
ALAMO CITY
Member since Dec 2010
134026 posts
Posted on 12/31/16 at 12:47 pm to
quote:

it was the other two guys who overheard the conversation out of context.


Yeah I hear ya.

Personally, I liken it to the term "bitch." Not a perfect analogy, I know, but there are certain settings/audiences where it's accepted and shunned. Usually, rapport and context are key, as other most coarse language.

Irl, though, I tend to play it pretty safe with both terms. Too easy to land in hot water IYAM
This post was edited on 1/1/17 at 9:50 pm
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