My frustrating and racist situation at work(long)

[CantAffordMAC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelique☆ CantAffordMAC you mentioned that you are also half-Black, is the bosses husband aware of this? Perhaps you should make reference to your lineage next time you're at work, (not sure if it will work) but he way stop making comments like this so as not to offend you. And if he doesn't desist knowing full well your ancestry, well, I know you gotta do what you gotta do to get money, but I don't think I could handle working with someone that is openly racist towards me. Either way I hope everything works out, please keep us posted

well one day when my boss and her husband were talking in spanish, she just turned to me and asked if I was spanish and if I spoke it, and I told her what i was that day and on at least two other occasions. He was right there when I told her that I was half black so its hard for me to think that he didnt hear me but whatever.

I appreciate everyone's comments though. thanks guys

 

[flowerhead]

Haha, this was all obviously a missunderstanding as you think I took offence because I *knew* (Not well-acquainted, you are sensationalizing what I wrote!) a Columbian girl and you think I took offence that other board members hadn't interpreted it wrong, if i hadn't i might have found it slightly amusing. i'm sorry i accused what you wrote of being racist, i did think the drug comment was quite low but as I stated I understand it's use now. however I will say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and usually isn't helpful on the internet - especially in conversations like these

 

[Shimmer]

Actually, generally speaking, sarcasm is usually intelligent wit, along with satire.

 

[flowerhead]

It might be intelligent to you because not all American's understand it, but you don't have to be that quick-witted to use it.

 

[KAIA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lipstickandhate Just buy a sombrero and a bean burrito from Taco Bell and ask him if he feels at home on Monday.

UHMMM he's Colombian not Mexican. He's not going to feel offended....

 

[Shimmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerhead It might be intelligent to you because not all American's understand it, but you don't have to be that quick-witted to use it.

Wrong again. Truly funny sarcasm, or sarcasm that actually hit its target, is usually quick witted and hilarious.

 

[MAC_Whore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerhead It might be intelligent to you because not all American's understand it, but you don't have to be that quick-witted to use it.

I am going back to work now. I hope the mental handicap of being American doesn't hold me back too much.

Note: Sarcasm

 

[aziajs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC_Whore I am going back to work now. I hope the mental handicap of being American doesn't hold me back to much. Note: Sarcasm

LOL! I hope so too.

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

I will say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit

Man getting hit in the groin with a football (thank you, Simpsons!) or other types of physical humor are much lower.

Is sarcasm the kind of humor that gets lost in Europe? I heard there was a kind of humor that really isn't native to Europe (or Germany; I forget if it was the continent or select countries), which why some jokes are lost. I know it's not slapstick, though.

 

[flowerhead]

Nah, actually most British humour is satire or sarcasm, and it's definately not lost on me but I don't think you should use it on the topic of racism on a forum in such a way, that's all. Also the UK is not usually classified as 'Europe' in terms of humour and culture because it's so different...go to countries like Germany, Poland etc and that's where it's truly lost.
Shimmer, you cannot simply state I am 'wrong.' That is an opinion, not right or wrong. And in this case I don't even think it was that funny, she obviously doesn't know anything about Columbian culture to satire if she started going on about hats and beans. I find genuinely witty sarcastic statements or satire funny or even hilarious, not just some clumsy stereotype. I Guess I'm not easily amused!
(Btw - You can apply sarcasm to absoloutely anything as MAC_WHORE proved, so it isn't that fucking witty. I don't think not understanding sarcasm is any kind of 'handicap' (yes it was sarcasm i know), I was just making a cultural generalization based on my experiences upon visiting the US, of course most intelligent Americans get it.)

 

[AfricanaEyes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelique☆ CantAffordMAC you mentioned that you are also half-Black, is the bosses husband aware of this? Perhaps you should make reference to your lineage next time you're at work, (not sure if it will work) but he way stop making comments like this so as not to offend you. And if he doesn't desist knowing full well your ancestry, well, I know you gotta do what you gotta do to get money, but I don't think I could handle working with someone that is openly racist towards me. Either way I hope everything works out, please keep us posted

I agree to this as well. It's unfortunate that these kind of comments/gestures are made. And the sad thing is...a lot of us become immune to not being accepted. Lord knows I know! But the only way to combat this type of ignorance is to nip it in the bud (whatever that means...

) when it happens. Educate people and let them know that their racist remarks are hurtful and inappropriate. I once lost a job because I told my boss that I didn't appreciate her saying I was one of her favorite "Black" employees. WTF! Can't be passive when beating racism. Many blessings!

 

[Beauty Mark]

You can't be passive, but at the same time, if you're broke and you can't afford to leave the job, even for a few days- I don't fault or question people for tolerating it.

 

[Ms. Z]

Quote:
Originally Posted by lipstickandhate
Just buy a sombrero and a bean burrito from Taco Bell and ask him if he feels at home on Monday.

....[/quote]
UHMMM he's Colombian not Mexican. He's not going to feel offended....[/quote]

This is probably true. Although for me (I'm Puerto Rican) I would be.

 

[CantAffordMAC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark You can't be passive, but at the same time, if you're broke and you can't afford to leave the job, even for a few days- I don't fault or question people for tolerating it.

yeah. i only work 3 days a week as it is, I'm not making any money. add that to the fact that my boss is the cheapest person I've ever met, and I guess it all makes sense. I have to write down all my hours because i'm afraid she's going to screw me out of money/hours (which she has) and I know that if I didn't approach this situation carefully and in the right way, she would have either fired me, or screwed me out of more money and time. its a shame

 

[Beauty Mark]

Keep the job for now but keep looking for another job.

 

[melliquor]

Racism is illegal in the workplace. You shouldn't have to put up with that kind of working conditions. Tell your boss that you are uncomfortable with the racist comments he says towards your ancestry and if it happens again you will be forced to report what is going on. Don't take that crap from anybody. There is always somebody going to try and bring you down to make themselves feel better regardless of their race.

I hope everything works out.

 

[aziajs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAIA UHMMM he's Colombian not Mexican. He's not going to feel offended....

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerhead And in this case I don't even think it was that funny, she obviously doesn't know anything about Columbian culture to satire if she started going on about hats and beans.

Again. I think that's the point. It's an ignorant generalization about Latin people in general - it's deliberate. It's just like his ignorant and stereotypical comments.

 

[aziajs]

oops...double post.

 

[Marielle001]

Quote:

Btw - You can apply sarcasm to absoloutely anything as MAC_WHORE proved, so it isn't that fucking witty.

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. You can apply humor to any situation. That doesn't mean it's not clever... What's the point of having a totally PC conversation about racism anyway? Then everyone just talks in circles trying to not to offend each other. A little sarcasm, a little acknowledgement of your own bigotry and others' goes a long way. I fail to see the point of conversations where nobody is willing to say ANYTHING even remotely controversial, where no one is willing to admit any bigotry/racism on their own parts. In fact, people are so afraid of *gasp* being racist that they will, out of fear, not ask any questions or try to interact with other races at all.

Also, while I don't advocate bigotry or racism, not everyone who makes an igorant or racist comment is this terrible unsavable person. Maybe if the husband's boss was shown a little benefit of the doubt, and somebody took the time to explain to him why that was offensive, he might learn something and think harder about his actions. And of course he might not.

And also, tolerance of other peoples' sense of humor. Some people find Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman and other comedians who use racial humor hilarious. Others don't. Some people appreciate sarcasm. Others don't. This is also intolerance, albeit less severe than intolerance of another person's race.

Conclusion: chill! Most people aren't evil. They will respond to kindness/understanding. Just cut 'em some slack until they do something heinous.

 

[KAIA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZLoves2Shop Quote: Originally Posted by lipstickandhate Just buy a sombrero and a bean burrito from Taco Bell and ask him if he feels at home on Monday. ....

UHMMM he's Colombian not Mexican. He's not going to feel offended....[/quote]

This is probably true. Although for me (I'm Puerto Rican) I would be.[/quote]

Well, yeah I understand what you're saying... in my case I wouldn't feel offended, but I would be pissed because people still get confused .. they think all Latin people eat burritos and tacos everyday.. LOL.