As a black man, I often find myself thinking about race. It's almost like I feel defined by it.
Take this magazine cover featuring Lebron James and Gisele, for example. I took one look at this and IMMEDIATELY saw comparisons being drawn between Lebron and Tarzan (the ape-man that swings through trees) and Gisele and Jane (the pure white hoe he wanted for himself).
My thinking doesn't stop there. Sometimes, when I'm walking down the street and the white woman approaching me suddenly crosses, I wonder if crossing made her destination more convenient or if she fears the big black mean nigger in his big black nigger Northface wanted to club her, snatch her purse and take her snatch. I'm just sayin'...white people do and say some shit that makes you wonder sometimes.
A case in point is when I was in the lobby of a BWI hotel the other day. My job was hosting trainings there and in the middle of one of the sessions, I went to the lobby to buy a soda. The machines only took singles and I only had a five, so I had to go to the front desk to make my purchase.
I went to the counter at the front desk to buy a soda. I paid for my Diet Coke and as I turned to walk away, the front desk guy, who happened to be white, initiated this rather suspect exchange:
Me: Thank you.Now...not for nothing, I said no because I didn't want the damn chili to begin with, not because I didn't see any hot sauce. I don't even use hot sauce like that. That's not my thing.
White Front Desk Guy: Oh, by the way, we have some chilli here on this table that you're welcome to. The woman who does our breakfast made it for our guests.
Me: Oh, how nice. I'm fine though. Thanks. [turns to walk away]
WFDG: We ain't got no hot sauce though. I was lookin' for the hot sauce, too, man.
Me: [gives perplexed look and walks away]
Did he try it or am I being racially sensitive? Is this guy really that into hot sauce that he felt the need to mention his craving for it or did he assume my black ass turned it down because I didn't see any on the table?
Was it odd that I was a little taken aback by that? Or, to add insult to injury, should he have just offered me some chicken and watermelon and a spot on the porch while he was at it?
9 comments:
im So Feelin' You on this I just went to the doctors office this morning and when I walked in was stared at and watched by every white person in the room as i was the only lone black male.....
And I think he was tryna be funny with the hot sauce comment. Most definitely.
I Think Racism is definitely alive. White people definitely make me wonder.....
Yes, it is alive and well, but so what. I mean, people are going to always be racist about something and not just white against black.
That Vogue cover really baffled me too. CNN did a story on it at the time and showed many of the hundreds of pictures taken at that photo-shoot in which Gisele and LeBron are engaged with each other in a very charming way, and yet THIS is what they chose.
As for Hotel Dude, what was it Arsenio used to say...things that make you say "HMMMMMMM...."
Pa, he punked you like a little bitch...I think I peed myself right there...LOL....oh lawd....ROFL...
Not the hot sauce...not the hot sauce...
Yup, Front Desk Dude was seriously tryin it with you. Look at how the grammar changed from "we have some chili that you're welcome to..." to "we ain't got no hotsauce." I would've loved to hear what you would've said back.
I don't think he had to say sh*t about the hotsauce to be real.
hot sauce...really hot sauce...asshole...should asked his ass if they had some bagels wit lox..or some damn motza ball soup lol
I don't know if it was racism or just poor judgement in customer service. Perhaps he may not honestly realize that not all black people are alike or even like the same things. Of course that would make him socially insensitive because he just stereotyped you so I guess I'm not helping.
Next time just tell him to fuck the chili and ask, "where the white women at?" That might give him something to think about.
BTW, cool new diggs.
PRIMO - Don't cha just hate being the lone black male anywhere? It's such burden for me. I feel like everything I do/say is representative of the black race as a whole.
Dick - LOL @ Hmmmmm. Yeah, I think he tried it, too.
Cocoa - :-(
Jersey B - He def did switch it right on up. I just wish you could've seen him. He was such an unassuming white guy. It took me by surprise.
Deonte - I know right!
Jerzey R - Not bagels with lox and motza soup tho. LMAOOOOOOOOOO
Curious - Yeah...racism isnt the what I'd call it either, per se. Just stupidity. And thanks for the compliment. I told you it was coming. You're my muse!
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