Racism's new face

**TUCKER** · 07-15-2008, 04:29 PM

I'm going to describe a couple of incidents from real every day life. For some these are blatant examples of a barbarian trying too hard to fit in, while to others these might be blatant examples of overt racism.

I work in a crew that is made up of 7 people. Of the 7, 1 is not Black. Our Black crew chief was transferred to Las Vegas a short time ago. His replacement was white. At the end of the shift, on the 1st day, the white boy invited the crew over to the chiefs lounge for a surprise as he put it. When we got there, he had an ice cold watermelon on the table. He cut everyone these huge slices and when I declined he pointed out that I was the only one on the team who declined his offer. He even had a bite himself to assure me there was nothing wrong with it. This act sort of gave everyone assurance that he must be alright cause they immediately started telling me I should have a slice to demonstrate my camaraderie. After 5 or 10 minutes of insistence, speared on by guess who, I caved and had a small bite. This seemed to satisfy everyone, but I became the target of his attention whenever he was chief of our unit.

Now some have said it was just a coincidence and I was the only one complaining. I never said a word. It was them insisting I eat watermelon from a barbarian as they had. Now as to the coincidence, CRAP! 1. That guy knew exactly who his team was comprised of before he came to work.
2. The watermelon was ice cold. He'd prepared it
3. When he chiefed over a crew of a different racial make up, he bought them pizza on his first day.

The point is that some people don't know when they're being targetted. These people will try so hard to fit in that they will make targets of themselves/

In another incident:

The same guy came up to one of the two females in the unit and asked, "Whos got yo heart in the unit?" Nothing right? When the girl turned and asked me what I thought he meant aside from the obvious, I told her "guys like that think Black men and women can't work together w'out someone fucking someone. If you took it any other way you're wrong." She told me he was checking before asking her for a date. She said she was not a racist like myself and she'd dated several guys of the other persuasion. She went on to tell me she didn't have anything against white folks. They hadn't done anything to her so if she decided to date him, she would and she didn't care what I thought. Mind you now I hadn't said a word. We finished that day, and about a month or so later, I asked her for an update on that situation. I warned her in advance if I was right, the whole ramp would know. As it were, I was right, but I felt so sorry for her that I let her off the hook. She is very attractive and shallowly thinks everyone wants her. Shes probably right, but most guys are intimidated by her beauty. Thats probably why she can't keep a boyfriend.

Any of this sound familiar? Theres more, I'll keep you posted.

**Jamal** · 07-15-2008, 05:31 PM

The crew chief knew exactly what he was doing, he was feeding the sterotype that all "Ns" love watermellon, Its a wonder he didn't have some fried chicken and some red kool aid to go along with it. Your refusal to join in and eat the watermellon was the equivalent of being an Uppity "N" to the crew chief and subsequently to the rest of field Negro's. You should have stuck to your guns and gut feeling instead of caving in to the pressure of the overseer and the field negros IMO.

**TUCKER** · 07-16-2008, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamal

You should have stuck to your guns and gut feeling instead of caving in to the pressure of the overseer and the field negros IMO.

I feel the same way, but the probationary period is a challenge for me. Like Rodney King, I just want to get along, FOR NOW!

**Jamal** · 07-16-2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUCKER

I feel the same way, but the probationary period is a challenge for me. Like Rodney King, I just want to get along, FOR NOW!

Probationary is the key word, that changes the whole complexion of things, to a certain degree, you never mentioned probationary period in your thread. If the new crew chief is the one who is going to evaluate you, then you may have to make some concessions as long as you can maintain your dignity. I think the fact that the watermellon was "ice cold" was too much to bare. LOL

**TUCKER** · 07-16-2008, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamal

If the new crew chief is the one who is going to evaluate you, then you may have to make some concessions as long as you can maintain your dignity.

I did and I did.

**sista** · 07-16-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUCKER

I work in a crew that is made up of 7 people. Of the 7, 1 is not Black. Our Black crew chief was transferred to Las Vegas a short time ago. His replacement was white. At the end of the shift, on the 1st day, the white boy invited the crew over to the chiefs lounge for a surprise as he put it. When we got there, he had an ice cold watermelon on the table. He cut everyone these huge slices and when I declined he pointed out that I was the only one on the team who declined his offer. He even had a bite himself to assure me there was nothing wrong with it. This act sort of gave everyone assurance that he must be alright cause they immediately started telling me I should have a slice to demonstrate my camaraderie. After 5 or 10 minutes of insistence, speared on by guess who, I caved and had a small bite. This seemed to satisfy everyone, but I became the target of his attention whenever he was chief of our unit.

ok, did dude take a pic of y'all? cuz I wouldn't be surprised if y'all 'luncheon' was on youtube...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUCKER

The same guy came up to one of the two females in the unit and asked, "Whos got yo heart in the unit?" Nothing right? When the girl turned and asked me what I thought he meant aside from the obvious, I told her "guys like that think Black men and women can't work together w'out someone fucking someone. If you took it any other way you're wrong." She told me he was checking before asking her for a date. She said she was not a racist like myself and she'd dated several guys of the other persuasion. She went on to tell me she didn't have anything against white folks. They hadn't done anything to her so if she decided to date him, she would and she didn't care what I thought. Mind you now I hadn't said a word. (THANK YOU!! I was like WTF while reading her coonish tripe) We finished that day, and about a month or so later, I asked her for an update on that situation. I warned her in advance if I was right, the whole ramp would know. As it were, I was right, but I felt so sorry for her that I let her off the hook. She is very attractive and shallowly thinks everyone wants her. Shes probably right, but most guys are intimidated by her beauty. Thats probably why she can't keep a boyfriend.

oh yeah, she's beautiful on the outside, but her UGLY goes to the bone.... and you a better man than me, cuz I woulda put that skanks actions and being WRONG on some billboard along the route to work!!!

that's just me...

**TUCKER** · 07-16-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sista

[font="Comic Sans MS"]
oh yeah, she's beautiful on the outside, but her UGLY goes to the bone.... and you a better man than me, cuz I woulda put that skanks actions and being WRONG on some billboard along the route to work!!!

that's just me...

YOU ARE SO BADDDDD! lmao

**Jamal** · 07-17-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sista

ok, did dude take a pic of y'all? cuz I wouldn't be surprised if y'all 'luncheon' was on youtube...

oh yeah, she's beautiful on the outside, but her UGLY goes to the bone.... and you a better man than me, cuz I woulda put that skanks actions and being WRONG on some billboard along the route to work!!!

that's just me...

LOL sista