This was composed Friday morning while scrubbing toilets at the ungodly hour of 830am. Because apparently, it takes a person of colour--a Black person--to talk about the blatant racism in the workplace. Some things you can't leave for white folks to do, cause they never get it right....
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I work with predominantly white people. Like, there are four of us who are immediately noticeable as persons of colour and a few mixed race folks flying under the radar. I am the only Black person. And for some strange reason, I hear folks throwing around Black vernacular, words like 'dawg', 'yo', 'fo' sho'.... I hear my white co-workers singing along to music with the n-word in it.... And this makes me pause, and occassionally a little confused... Because last time I checked, I didn't work with any other Black folk, which means I shouldn't be hearing that word at work. But I do, because I work for RAD Services. And we all know what the R stands for....
I was venting a bit to a good friend about the racism, sexism, misogyny--among other patriarchal branches on this RAD Services tree--and she told me what she's done in the past when confronted with unacceptable music and/or behaviour at her job. One incident in particular involved her taking the offending iPod--and radio--and throwing it off a balcony.... :slow clap: My hero. I'm going to take similar steps if I EVER hear the n-word while on the clock.
Since I like lists, I'm going to make a quick one for my co-workers, in case they feel the urge to continue to appropriate elements of Black culture, cause they think it's 'hip' or 'cool'. This might also save them from my fierce side-eye (during work hours) and/or a dumpster beating (off the clock).
1) You. Are. Not. Black. I don't care how much rap and/or hip-hop you listen to. Your ass is not Black
2) Since YOU ARE NOT BLACK you don't get to use Black vernacular without being called on your racism. Example: "Yo Auri! What up dawg?!"
3) Since YOU ARE NOT BLACK you do not get to use the n-word. EVER.
4) I am Black. :gasp: Thanks for noticing!! And I will not be having conversations about how you can stop your racist behaviour. I'm not paid to help you through that. However, there's this amazing website called Google, and it can.
You work for RAD Serices and you're reading this...? Fan-fucking-tastic!!! Distribute W I D E L Y
But couldn't this be considered racist as well seeing how everyone should be treated equal including those of a transgender variety
ReplyDeleteDear Anon,
DeleteIn the future, you should try to curb your hate and transphobia, and refer to me by my preferred name, Auri. Respect me and I might continue to humour you with replies. :)
Cheers
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Racism is part of a system of oppression that negatively affects people of colour. Racism operates in such a way that it makes white people superior in every aspect over people of colour. Thus, it makes everyone who is not white unequal or less than white people. This post specifically addresses how white supremacy--i.e. racism-- allows for the cultural appropriation or THEFT of cultures, customs, traditions, ways of speech, fashions, and every other thing that makes Black folk so fabulous from Black people.
Since I am Black, and thus not white, I cannot be racist. There is no system of oppression that makes Black people superior over white people. I can discriminate the hell out of some white people, but I can never be racist.
In fighting against systems of oppression, we can strive to make folks equal. The reality of the situation is that racism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, among others, exist and exploit people who do not fit within the norms they dictate. Trying to imagine otherwise is a disservice to you and any individuals who suffer under those systems, and will never dismantle any type of oppression.
Ahem... This is a different Anon... Auri, I'm pretty sure you are one of the most hateful people that I have ever met. You should think twice before chastising _anyone_ else with being hateful or not accepting enough and take some time to try to knock yourself down a couple dozen self-righteous pegs and do some soul-searching that _doesn't_ chiefly revolve around dwelling on how unjust the world is [to you]. You're missing the entire point of your dedication to equality and anti-oppression; you seem to operate from a basis of fear, hatred, aggression, and a very steady system of putting people into little rigid boxes of judgment based on external attributes that you are self-assured that you understand much better than they do.
ReplyDelete