Some people don’t get that it’s rude to ask someone “what are you?” uh…I’m a human being. I have a name. I’m an American citizen (well if you are…) There’s a saying that goes, you shouldn’t ever assume things because it makes an ass out of you and me. More people should really go with that. I’m curious about people most of the time because growing up in my smallish Midwestern town we didn’t have a heck of a lot of diversity presenting itself if you know what I mean. And it’s fine to ask someone about there heritage, I do all the time. The key is, be a little tactful, think before you speak, maybe don’t phrase your question as if you’re accusing someone of being an object or something.
Some people haven’t heard of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Truth be told prior to writing this I’d never heard the specifics of this either, but I live in America in the 21st Century, so logically I know there are laws on the books prohibiting workplace harassment and discrimination. But some people, I don’t know, forget this fact, and it costs them. (Literally) Hey if you must be taught the hard way, it should cost you more than giving an apology. Let’s profile, say 2006.
The Jacksonville Business Journal reported an incident with Jax Inns Inc. at a Sprindrifter Hotel in Orange Pars. Hotel management fired a Caucasian female employee less then a month after they saw her biracial children. Cost in settlement $99,000
‘Books for Less’ in California, was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) when a Caucasian female employee was subjected to racial slurs when the store owner found out the employee’s children were biracial.
EEOC took a retail furniture store to court when a store manager became relentless in comments to an African American female employee in regards to her interracial marriage with a Caucasian male. (EEOCv. R.T.G. Furniture Corp.) Cost in settlement $275,000
EEOC v. Bolling Steel Co. A Virginia lawsuit ensued between a steel contractor and a biracial male worker, in relation to the derogatory racial harassment that he was repeatedly subjected to.
I’ll end this message with a with a play on words to the early 1990’s Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff’s hit “Parents Just Don’t Understand” to play up my point. Sing it with me now.
You know people aren’t all the same
No matter time nor place
They don’t understand that this world
Is full of folks multi-race
So to you other peers, all across the land
There’s no need to argue
People have to understand
Word to ya mother.
—-Posted by Maggie Barnes
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Filed under: Maggie Barnes, bi-racial
I Love this blog. Thank you for putting it out there. It is what it is and that can’t be changed. America is bi, tri, etc racial. The person asking another what race they are might be surprised if they checked their family tree.
At my workforce I’m the only Hispanic with a group of all white men. Race has never been an issue with us, and I appreciate our maturity and acceptance. Great Post
N DOT C