I work with black people, as coworkers and clients. I am a white person. I really couldn't care less about the color of a persons skin, and most every black person I've worked with seemed to accept me in the same way I accept them.
I know a lot about the world and the horrors different groups have inflicted on each other over time. I have a great capacity for empathy and understanding, and a great deal of revulsion at people who judge others by their appearances. I was raised by a very liberal family in a very liberal community at a very liberal time(70's).
I have a new coworker who is 20 years younger than I, and has copped an attitude that I shouldn't be working in the black community simply because I am white and can't possibly understand their experience. This is exceptionally frustrating, because they are judging me on my race and age ("she's and old white lady, so she must be racist"), and not on my work, attitude and knowledge because they haven't even taken the time to have a discussion with me.
Please don't lump all people of the same group together. We are each unique individuals and while there are intolerant jerks in every group, there are also kind and understanding people who are being alienated when they are treated like the jerks you may have experienced, simply because they share physical characteristics with those jerks.
Is it normal that I get constant racist attitude from black people?
← View full post
I work with black people, as coworkers and clients. I am a white person. I really couldn't care less about the color of a persons skin, and most every black person I've worked with seemed to accept me in the same way I accept them.
I know a lot about the world and the horrors different groups have inflicted on each other over time. I have a great capacity for empathy and understanding, and a great deal of revulsion at people who judge others by their appearances. I was raised by a very liberal family in a very liberal community at a very liberal time(70's).
I have a new coworker who is 20 years younger than I, and has copped an attitude that I shouldn't be working in the black community simply because I am white and can't possibly understand their experience. This is exceptionally frustrating, because they are judging me on my race and age ("she's and old white lady, so she must be racist"), and not on my work, attitude and knowledge because they haven't even taken the time to have a discussion with me.
Please don't lump all people of the same group together. We are each unique individuals and while there are intolerant jerks in every group, there are also kind and understanding people who are being alienated when they are treated like the jerks you may have experienced, simply because they share physical characteristics with those jerks.