It’s tiresome enough that I often feel like I carry the culture on my back when it comes to information. I often feel responsible for informing Black people of what is expected of us, how we’re perceived, and what knowledge we need to know about ourselves, our history, and what’s happening to folks that look like us across the globe! Of course I’m not going to reach everyone, but if I can reach one person, I’ll feel somewhat accomplished.
At work, many of us know that we must code switch depending upon whom we’re around and with whom we’re speaking. It has come to my attention that many Black young adults (ages 27-36) don’t know that there are topics and conversations that you can’t have with WP, specifically at work. It was just last week when I overheard another peer telling someone loudly “Black people don’t like Russell Wilson, because they think he isn’t Black enough!” I almost choked on my sparkling water, but not before I could interrupt and say “This is an inappropriate conversation, and it will not be had around me!” Keep in mind the room was filled with WP. My peer instantly stopped the discussion.
That same week, another peer of mine that is also Black had a conversation about things we should and should not say in the company of others! I pretty much figured we were on the same page, Until….. (long deep sigh) Today! As we were having a group conversation about bands, he starts talking about Pershing High School. I said “I loved Pershing! I loved the support that they got from the community and from their alumni!” He goes “Nah they turned the Dough Boys into a gang and drug dealers!” I instantly stopped talking! Previous to this I was living by the rule of only speaking when it was necessary at work! After this, I’m going back to that motto!
Anyway, I stopped talking because if I continued to go against what he was saying, he was just going to over talk me and get louder when he was already loud enough for everyone at the table to hear him. Some people may ask “what’s wrong with him saying that if it’s true?” The answer is that you never want to give any type of validity or recognition to perpetuate stereotypes in the presence of WP. First of all, internal issues that Black people may or may not have isn’t for everyone to know. The second thing is that it opens the door for ignorant and/or racist comments because they’ve been invited into the conversation! Lastly, These people are not your friends! They are your peers!