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[turnbuckle]

You can't win an argument with an idiot.

Best to let it go.

This advice applies to so many things.

Sorry about the incident, glad it didn't escalate into something worse. Racism is a nasty thing, maybe it's saddest when members of a race generate lowered expectations for themselves and others of the same race.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

I mean...what the fuck? Just because I have a good job I'm a sellout? And I speak proper english?

Nope. Other way around. It's the guys who use race as an excuse for their own lack of success or effort that are selling their people out.

It's not even a racial thing, insecure people always use some kind of coping mechanism to assuage their ego and explain their own lack of power. You just happened to run into a couple of guys who used race as theirs and took it out on you.

At the end of the day, you're the one who's getting paid on Friday. They'd all take your job in a second if they were offered it. Whether they're mature enough to handle it is another question.

 

[The Incarnation]

I can't help but detect a little self-hate in this thread.

Again, sucks that the OP was antagonized that way, but I see this story being used as a springboard to claim that any group of black people that you look at and judge to be less successful than yourself obviously spends the rest of their lives being jealous of your intellect, and MUST act on it whenever they encounter you...and honestly I don't think that's much better.

Maybe I just have a different perspective. I was a geek in high school, and I got picked on a little bit, but honestly not much. I didn't think of myself as better than anybody, so I certainly didn't act that way. I tried to be on good terms with everyone. Of course it didn't always work that way, but in those cases I just kept to myself. By senior year I was largely left alone. A few guys in some of classes would call me "College Boy" jokingly, but that was really nothing to get ruffled about.

I remember the kids who usually got made fun of for being uncle toms were the ones who got upset and let their contempt show whenever a joke was cracked...which usually incited more joking. Show contempt and you get contempt back, as it were.

One of the reasons I don't take racism too seriously, some people could do with a little humbling personally. At least until they get a more balanced outlook.

 

[Chiave]

I don't see why you would care. It doesn't seem like you deal with these sort of shenanigans on a daily basis.

 

[neutralgamer02]

Not to antagonize the OP, because those guys were in the wrong, but I have to say that I also agree with this post:




As an intelligent and well-spoken black man, I've received the "white-washed" criticism as well. Not a lot, because I generally try to be cool with everyone, but its happened before. However, at this point in my life, I can also say that I've run into just as many black guys who seem to reject anything even remotely considered "black culture" as though it were born of the plague. Black people who shun anything "ghetto" and go out of their way to prove that they're "not like that." And sometimes it shows. And it's just as annoying, in my opinion.

I hate to say it, but the Uncle Tom stereotype does exist.

Just the other week I was at a party with a few coworkers, and I was talking to this other black guy that was there. I noticed we were the only two black guys at the party, and I commented on it. His response: "Well, we're the right kind of black people." In all seriousness. I was stupefied. I'm mean, really? In 2011? I was about as offended as I would be if some old white dude told me I was a credit to my race.

I'm not saying that the OP deserved to be antagonized. Nobody deserves that. But I have to agree with the quote in that it seemed like you were expecting them to act a certain way from the moment they walked into the store. And maybe they picked up on that and went out of their way to pick on you?

Same. I actually dislike the Uncle Toms more than the ghetto blacks because of the reason you said. I have grown up in a fairly black city, and I have never been called white by any black person even though I have proper speech, graduated from college, etc. Actually, most of them seem quite supportive that I want to attend medical school, etc.

What I find real annoying is when non-blacks assume you do things. Luckily, I have never run into that either, but if I did I would confront them about it.

Edit: Actually, one black woman once said I talked very well when she was asking me directions on campus once. That is about it. She never said anything about white. Seriously, where do you people live?

 

[Mariah Carey]

If it means anything OP, they sound like the kind of people that will say anything to get under your skin. They just didn't like being told off, so they had to get the last word in.

 

[Raydeen]

 

[Sinoox]

They're just a bunch of jealous assholes, it's as simple as that. Why would you even need to defend yourself verbally? Their thoughts shouldn't effect you.

 

[Kinitari]

First, people realize that just because they do not personally experience something, it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. And the problem lies, more than anywhere else, in the idea that people of the same ethnicity have some sort of responsibility to that ethnicity. That ideology bothers me so damn much, be whatever the fuck you want, just don't give other people grief for not fitting into your box.

 

[Dan Yo]

I'm white and I get treated this way, too, mostly by my family.

To this day my mother is very sensitive of me calling out anything my family does that might be construed as "simple" or "redneck". She'll see a book by an author she doesn't know, but looks "pretentious" and suddenly will erupt with "oh, so you're still on a 'smart' kick, huh? You came from simple, fun-loving Midwesterners who just like to have a good time, play cards and laugh with family and you're trying to be better than us". I never infer anything at all even and will let her know that, then she says "What the fuck does 'infer' mean and why do you use words you know I don't understand? You're NOT better than us and get that through your fucking head. You can't take the trailer out of trailer trash."

True story.

For a brief period in high school I hung out with an old friend of mine and his group of friends. All car guys, wrench monkeys or whatever they're labeled. As soon as I showed up on Facebook, they all friended me. The debates those first few weeks were sad. I would post something liberal or educational and was called down. For example, I posted the 100 Greatest Books of All Time and mentioned that I hadn't read nearly enough of these and suddenly "fuck ben u changed" I was like, "I've changed? I haven't talked to you in 13 years, since we left high schoool, how do you KNOW me?" "u changed u were into racing an farmin and now ur trying to be all smart and shit above us and shit u grew up in minnesota man not jew york". I tried to explain that I was bored and going from group to group in high school and finally decided to become more cultured after school and into college, but they swore I should still be the same person as I was in high school.

And don't get me started on the fight over Fox News with a kid I barely knew in high school.

You posted LIBERAL things on your Facebook? They must have been dazzled by your intelligence and extremely jealous.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Had that happen to me once. But I wasn't at my job or on the clock so I just let loose with the sarcasm and let em know what's good and that not every black person needs to behave like they're on a hip-hop video. Basically I said "Yea, because every black person that made something of themselves talked/acted like that..yup...I remember Dr.King and Malcolm X speaking "Yo yo yo my N---! What it is up in this BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH!" and they basically shut up and went away.

Thankfully, I'm a grown ass man and could not possibly give a shit less these days. I accept myself for everything I am, and everything I am not. I can't imaging living a happy life any other way.

 

[bengraven]

Is that Bachmann country?

Everywhere that dirt track racing is held in higher regard than reading is Bachmann country.

 

[malingenie]

Deeming a certain set of behaviors to be "acting like (insert race or ethnic group here)" is about as racist as it gets. You shoulda decked the dude.

.

No. The right thing was feeling speechless and telling your story. Engaging in violence would diminish the message. We see uncultured pricks everywhere of all races being angry @ the people who rose above them. This behavior is ridiculous and no more than bullying.

 

[dudeworld]

OP actually lives in the 50s.

lol judging by this picture it seems that 3D cinema and TV came out at the wrong time

 

[GDGF]

They said ''let's blow this joint'', really?

This is what I was just about to post lol

You should have challenged them to a drag race

 

[PaddyOCanager]

I'm not sure why this would bother you. You are a successful person with a lot going for you, and are likely going to continue this trend in your life. Who gives a shit what those assholes think? Their attitudes will get them nowhere in life. If it were me I'd have laughed about it on the way to the bank, then forget them forever - but I'm white and pretty much ignore people who make issues with race, so I guess I can't identify with what you're going through.

 

[weepy]

First, people realize that just because they do not personally experience something, it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. And the problem lies, more than anywhere else, in the idea that people of the same ethnicity have some sort of responsibility to that ethnicity. That ideology bothers me so damn much, be whatever the fuck you want, just don't give other people grief for not fitting into your box.

While I agree with this wholeheartedly, we still are put into that box. For every group of black folks that act out of terms, loud and belligerent, every allhiphop video posted, every crime involvement, you would always have that feeling of "damn, they're making us look bad" even though you know it has absolutely nothing to do with you. Like it or not, we are going to get lumped into the same group just because we share a skin color.

 

[Rorschach]

They said ''let's blow this joint'', really?

That's what I was saying on the first page. I'm still not seeing it. It's one step removed from "let's blow this popsicle stand!"

 

[Anteater]

I haven't read the rest of the thread.

But, if I read the OP right, those kids you ran into are putting themselves down by saying "lol you should act like idiots like we do", they're idiots, ignore them.

 

[btkadams]

you should have just laughed at them. it just fed them to give them any indication it bothered you.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

People who think that people of a certain skin color should act in a certain way should not be given the time of day. Don't be bothered by what some ignorant assholes think about you.

 

[Fallen_Hero]

this is kinda how i feel, as an asian-american.

like, when i see a bunch of asian tourists taking PEEKCHA after PEEKCHA i get annoyed too. like foreal? you seriously need to take 4-5 shots with the peace sign out EVERY time? seriously stop, you make my peoples look bad in amurrica

Wow. Tourists often can only speak their native language and, of course, want to take a lot of pictures; this applies to any race. You shouldn't blame the tourists for their culture and diversity but rather the people who view them in a negative way.

 

[heyf00L]

Dialogue in the OP couldn't be any less realistic if early 90's Spike Lee wrote it. Looks hella contrived. Not buying it. I don't doubt you had some sort of incident that made you self-conscious about being black but your portrayal is way to whacky to be sincere.

*edit*

Also, any conformance to the status quo is "acting white". Accept it. White Europeans have set the standards for socio-economic performance in America and across the globe. Whites have to meet these standards to succeed just as much as blacks do (it's just much easier).

I don't think it was "White Europeans" that set the standards so much as the general principle that in a free society hard work pays off over time. It's also not "across the globe" because in many countries the road to socio-economic gains is bribes, relatives, war, etc. Do you prefer these alternatives?

 

[gutter_trash]

NightBlade88, don't give them any satisfaction and don't question your identity

if those youths want to stay inside their "bubble", then just let them get closed minded and shit and be stuck in a circle.

they were just jealous because you made it

 

[Dreams-Visions]

As a black American who's been involved in all manner of activities and social circles, I'm happy to have never been around people who would have attempted to make this kind of association.

Perhaps I commanded enough respect to counteract such things. Or, because I didn't associate with people of such low intellectual horizons as to find myself in conversation with such a person.

 

[zero_suit]

As a black American who's been involved in all manner of activities and social circles, I'm happy to have never been around people who would have attempted to make this kind of association.

Perhaps I commanded enough respect to counteract such things. Or, because I didn't associate with people of such low intellectual horizons as to find myself in conversation with such a person.

Sell-out!

 

[genjiZERO]

still gets me every time

Seriously though - trash is trash. Fuck it. You win at life . . . they aren't likely to.

 

[Count Dookkake]

Good God I wish the rednecks around here would pick up on the fact that I don't want to talk to them. Just because I'm white doesn't mean I want to hear their narrow minded stance on Mexicans or that I won't be offended when they use the racist epitaph sand n*gger.

You a stonemason?

 

[Throavium]

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Sell-out!

:-(

 

[ipukespiders]

Here's how you handle it:

Guy 1: Hey, XXX, look at this fool all dressed up and thinking he hot shit
You: "hello ladies"
Guy 2: Wat!
You: "look at your man"
Guy 1: ?
You: "now look at me, now back to your man, now back to me..."etc

It'll help if you take off your shirt.

 

[captmcblack]

There's nothing to handle; I love haters of all shapes, shades and sizes. I brush my teeth with hatred; makes that shit nice and bright.

Next time OP sees haters, he should do some baller shit like light money on fire right in front of them.

 

[Apoc87]

 

[Amir0x]

A little backstory: I'm a black male in my early twenties who by a miracle (read: connections) managed to finish my degree, and land a decent paying (for a recent graduate anyhow) "White collar" job for a clothing chain where I live.

Technically, I was off today, and after settling in to my apartment after a day out I get a call saying they need me to be a temporary manager for the day for a store about 10 miles away from where I lived. Since they were paying me extra since it was my day off, I was like "sure what the hell". I had nothing better to do.

I get there, and find out the manager went home sick. Why they didn't have workers who could handle not being supervised, I have no clue. But I said screw it, I'll have a few extra dollars when I get paid Friday. Anyway, things go smooth for the first couple of hours or with no incidents and people being checked out quickly and efficiently with little to no problems while I made sure everyone stayed on task.

Then....an hour before we were going to close, I run into this shit. Basically, a group of black males came into the store, of course acting ignorant as fuck, and I just shook my head hoping they wouldn't cause any trouble and they'd do their business and GTFO.

No sooner than I think this, they started to act ghetto and loud. This, naturally, annoys the fuck out of me, so I tell them to quiet it down.

Guy 1: Hey, XXX, look at this fool all dressed up and thinking he hot shit
Me:...Excuse me?
Guy 2: Yeah, dis Ni**a do think he all that. Where you get that controlling attitude boy and using all them big words? Think cuz the white folks gave you a job you think you can talk down to us
Me: No, I just think...
Guy 1: Nobody cares what you think white boy! Go on and be wit yo fellow crackers you fucking traitorous sellout ni**a
Guy 2: Let's blow this joint....not enough real N**as in here
*They leave with me speechless*

GAF I'm in shock. Like, I didn't know what to say. I didn't talk to anyone for the rest of the night and any attempt at conversation about the subject was quickly dropped.

I mean...what the fuck? Just because I have a good job I'm a sellout? And I speak proper english? Ugh. I'm just...angry. Angry that there are people who actually HATE people reaching sucess from my own race.

GAF should I have said more to defend myself? Or was I right in letting it go?

My brother is a racist fucktard, and I had a big argument with him recently about saying this exact phrase.

See my brother-in-law is black, and he's a really good guy. He has a good job, he's geekier than me, he treats my sister right and he raises his son the way a father should. But my brother, who is tainted from his jail experience and who has a deep seated resentment of black people due to this, just says he's "acting white." It's so fucking infuriating.

The other day he told my sister that my brother-in-law would never be apart of the family, so my sister stopped talking to him. He can't understand why. I told my brother that technically Jason is more part of the family than he is, because when my sister was in the hospital he was there EVERY SINGLE DAY and spent the entire day with her, non-stop, and yet my brother didn't visit even once.

Fuck I hate my brother.

 

[PhoenixDark]

As supervisor it was the OP's job to deal with the situation, and he did so in a professional manner. A group of loud, questionable individuals disturbing a store is no small thing that can be ignored.

The idea that he could ignore them, or laugh at them, or throw some verbal barbs of his own is simply not viable in a work situation. Would you rather do that and have your boss find out about it later, or handle the situation calmly to demonstrate to everyone that you can handle yourself under pressure?

 

[number47]

"I feel sorry for your mother."

We all know that was racist comment. Those people were korean in that movie.not japanese.

 

[Professor Beef]

There's nothing to handle; I love haters of all shapes, shades and sizes. I brush my teeth with hatred; makes that shit nice and bright.

Next time OP sees haters, he should do some baller shit like light money on fire right in front of them.

He should light a cigarette wrapped with dollars WITH flaming dollars, then stomp on it after it's lit.

 

[Nix]

My brother is a racist fucktard, and I had a big argument with him recently about saying this exact phrase.

See my brother-in-law is black, and he's a really good guy. He has a good job, he's geekier than me, he treats my sister right and he raises his son the way a father should. But my brother, who is tainted from his jail experience and who has a deep seated resentment of black people due to this, just says he's "acting white." It's so fucking infuriating.

The other day he told my sister that my brother-in-law would never be apart of the family, so my sister stopped talking to him. He can't understand why. I told my brother that technically Jason is more part of the family than he is, because when my sister was in the hospital he was there EVERY SINGLE DAY and spent the entire day with her, non-stop, and yet my brother didn't visit even once.

Fuck I hate my brother.

I swear I would buy your fucking memoir. Gold.

 

[Phantast2k]

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

I swear I would buy your fucking memoir. Gold.

Seriously his life is crazy...

 

[Negaiido]

Since when is being called white a curse word or a bad thing? I wouldn't mind being called "Black","Chinese", "Japanese" etc.
You should be glad that they didn't rob you or smashed the shop... but instead you are worried about being called white smh .

 

[Deified Data]

That sucks, OP. Let it go - ignorance is its own worst punishment.

You're an individual. You never signed a contract saying you were obliged to live a certain way. Do what you do and shit on anyone who mocks you for it.

 

[bengraven]

As supervisor it was the OP's job to deal with the situation, and he did so in a professional manner. A group of loud, questionable individuals disturbing a store is no small thing that can be ignored.

The idea that he could ignore them, or laugh at them, or throw some verbal barbs of his own is simply not viable in a work situation. Would you rather do that and have your boss find out about it later, or handle the situation calmly to demonstrate to everyone that you can handle yourself under pressure?

This is precisely it.

My brother is a racist fucktard, and I had a big argument with him recently about saying this exact phrase.

See my brother-in-law is black, and he's a really good guy. He has a good job, he's geekier than me, he treats my sister right and he raises his son the way a father should. But my brother, who is tainted from his jail experience and who has a deep seated resentment of black people due to this, just says he's "acting white." It's so fucking infuriating.

The other day he told my sister that my brother-in-law would never be apart of the family, so my sister stopped talking to him. He can't understand why. I told my brother that technically Jason is more part of the family than he is, because when my sister was in the hospital he was there EVERY SINGLE DAY and spent the entire day with her, non-stop, and yet my brother didn't visit even once.

Fuck I hate my brother.

How do your parents regard him?

 

[MightyKAC]

Since when is being called white a curse word or a bad thing? I wouldn't mind being called "Black","Chinese", "Japanese" etc.

No one likes being called something that they aren't. Especially when it's with malicious intent.

 

[bengraven]

No one likes being called something that they aren't. Especially when it's with malicious intent.

Pretty much.

When someone says something to you and emphasizes a word they transform that word into a curse. "White" or "black" can basically be "cracker" and "nigger" if the right emphasis is on it.

I had a coworker who abhorred Middle-easterners, but because it was a professional work environment, he tried to maintain a light air when talking about ME politics. But he'd be like: "those...PEOPLE...need martial law instituted" and it would sound to us like he was screaming to call them something other than "people".

 

[Amir0x]

I swear I would buy your fucking memoir. Gold.

Well if we're adding interesting tidbits to the fire, my brother was in jail on and off for ten years. Variously for:

1. Hiding a weapon used in an attempted murder (he plea bargain'd to a short term by ratting on his gang member buddies). He got 2 years.

2. Said gang members attacked him in a parking lot, and my brother shot one of them in the eye - blinding him. He survived. He got 4 years.

3. Came out of jail, then moved to an apartment and robbed the house next door to him. Then he bragged about it at the bar downstairs and someone told on him. When police searched his stuff, they found nude photos of his then girlfriend who was 17 at the time. So together, 4 more years.

He's just a fucking dumbass.

How do your parents regard him?

Well, he is my mom's first born so she always tries really hard to reason with him and makes excuses for him. She totally hates his behavior but she feels she'd be failing him if she didn't help him out. My Dad just had enough of him and rarely talks to him.

The main problem is that my brother has a kid now, and so my mom and dad love that little girl. I do too. And in order to support her, he works and my mom watches the kid. She's extremely sick so that's tough enough. But it's very hard to deal with because my brother is such a douchebag.

 

[Negaiido]

No one likes being called something that they aren't. Especially when it's with malicious intent.

It's not being called something that you are not that you dislike. I think that It's still in the mind of these people that races do matter and it's in the mind of the OP.

I had a coworker who abhorred Middle-easterners, but because it was a professional work environment, he tried to maintain a light air when talking about ME politics. But he'd be like: "those...PEOPLE...need martial law instituted" and it would sound to us like he was screaming to call them something other than "people".

You PERSON..... do you feel offended?

 

[JGS]

All the hood dudes I know praise brothers that make it out of the hood.

I was thinking about this thread some more because I was trying to remember how often I've been in that situation.

I think it depends on the guy. I belive the OP as I've seen it, but although I've been accused of sounding white (It's unintentionally true. I also don't sound like I'm from Kentucky), I am rarely accused of selling out.

There is usually a mutual respect thing going on assuming you aren't disrespecting them.

 

[Aselith]

Maybe the dudes were making fun of him. Like in a super "white" voice, "Let's blow this joint, fellows!"

 

[TacticalFox88]

I was thinking about this thread some more because I was trying to remember how often I've been in that situation.

I think it depends on the guy. I belive the OP as I've seen it, but although I've been accused of sounding white (It's unintentionally true. I also don't sound like I'm from Kentucky), I am rarely accused of selling out.

There is usually a mutual respect thing going on assuming you aren't disrespecting them.

I always thought you were white. *mindblown*