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Equal opportunity racism

My boss was telling me about an interesting incident with HR a while back

HR: “There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of African Americans working here”
Joe: “Sure there are. Those 3 over there are all from South Africa” *
HR: “That’s not what I mean, I mean like-”
Joe: “Ooooh, you mean black people
HR: “No no, I don’t mean that… You know, African Americans”
Joe: “Yeah, those guys are from Africa and they are living in America. I don’t see how they don’t count as African American”.
HR: “But they’re-”
Joe: “-white? I see. So you think we need more black people then?”
HR: “NO! I’m talking about Afric… … Nevermind, I don’t think I can talk about this anymore right now.”

Although Joe’s default mode is “antagonize”, I think he was making a valid point. If you insist on referring to a group of people as “African Americans” and using that as more or less the only qualifier for politidcal correctness reasons, be prepared to include everyone who is “African American”. Even if their skintone is white. After all, you’re attempting to be all happy-stars-and-rainbows politically correct and “colorblind”.

*For those not familiar, it’s typical for people from South Africa to be Caucasian in skintone with British sounding accents.

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  1. June 29th, 2007 at 16:18 | #1

    Back when i worked in Res Life (I still carry the scars), there was an interesting conversation similar to that one.

    Res Life Chick 1: Hey, I’m trying to get this package to that young African American gentleman over in Davis Hall. Who know that guy?

    Res Life Chick 2: Ohhh, yeah, but, (hushed tones) I think he’s Jamacian American.

    RLC1: Nooo, I think you mean the man on the third floor. I mean that tall young man on the first floor. The African American gentleman; he has the cultural-looking hair?

    RLC2: Oh, hmm, I’m not sure I know him. But I know I’ve seen one Jamaican American man over in that building. I remember, I saw a Jamacian flag sticker on the car he was driving.

    RLC1: Hm, I’m not sure…

    Me: Hey, do you mean Michael?

    RLC1: …

    Me: Yeah, Michael. He’s the only black guy on the floor.

    RLC2: Oh, is that his name?

    The conversation continued between 1 and 2, because it was really super important to know whether the man in question (I had to remind them, again, that his name was Michael) was African or Jamaican American.

    I was tempted to also let them know that he made more racially charged jokes than anyone on the floor, was easy-going and open about his culture if you wanted to know, and would have laughed at the ridiculousness of this conversation. But I figured I’d let them keep some illusions.

    There began my very steady disenchantment with the entire field.

  2. June 29th, 2007 at 17:26 | #2

    it’s also typical for them to have blond hair, blue eyes, german accents, and family trees that start in 1946. =)

  3. June 29th, 2007 at 18:51 | #3

    Awesome story. I love it when political correctness backfires.

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