My Co-Worker was called the N-word

[GOPFighter]

He works next to me. We work in an office environment in a Washington, DC, suburb. He likes to take a walk downtown at lunch for exercise. He's in his 50's, a sharp dresser and distinguished looking.

A few days ago he came into my cubicle, laughing. He told me what happened. He was walking along the street and happened to pass an older lady. As he passed her, the lady called him the N-word. He said he turned and said, "Pardon me?" And she said it again. He said he kept walking but came to the corner, and the light was red. She walked up next to him. My co-worker said he turned to her and in his ugliest face and voice told her she was a truly miserable human being. He said she jumped back, and just stood there when the light turned green.

My co-worker said she was ill-kept and possibly a street person. I could tell he felt conflicted, mad at being called a name (THAT name), and upset that he lashed out at her. I know he was laughing on the outside, but was shaken on the inside.

No matter how old you get, no matter how long its been since the laws were passed guaranteeing your equality, no matter how successful you are, if you're an African-America they know they can still hurt you.

I noticed he hasn't taken any lunch-time walks since then.

[msgadget]

1. Whoa, even though she was probably a little nuts, it still had to sting.

My kids have experienced this shock from long-time 'friends' during arguments. I tell them it can either be our Aquille's Heel or just another ignorant term that helps determine the true nature of our relationships and position within communities. But, hell, it may be easy to intellectualize about but its a damned hard assault to get over.

Edit because I don't proofread!!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. Unfotunately, it seems pretty common with the older generation

I guess old habits die hard.

That is some ignorant crap. Derogatory words tend to come up a lot. Sometimes they are just "innocently" said by a white person because, hey "they" call themselves that all the time or "I've been called "cracker" and it doesn't bother me".

[angee_is_mad]

4. darkies

I use to work in a upscale boutique and one of my best clients was this older wealthy white woman. She invited me to her home, we meet for lunch and she always remembered me during the holidays. I had built up a relationship with this woman and one day she was reminiscing about her youth and she said that her family use to have some darkies who did worked in the home the house.

This woman had been my client for 2yrs and only dealt with me. If I was not at work she did not buy, but when she said that my mouth just dropped to the floor.

I told her I would be right back and was gone for over an hour. Of course when I got back she was gone. The next time she came in I kindly told her that she might feel more comfortable working with Sharon(white) from now on. She wanted to know what was wrong and I told her, "you wouldn't even understand."

If only a white person who complain about blacks whining could instantly turn black for a week as soon as those words left his lips.I betcha by the 2nd day he/she will be suicidal!

[undergroundrailroad]

3. The Drive-by "N" word. Not cool. Not cool at all.

I hope your co-worker resumes taking his lunch-time walks.

Stay strong.

Undergroundrailroad

[GOPFighter]

5. He's strong and confident

I'm sure he's put the incident in perspective and it's on it's way down the memory hole. It may have had a longer impact on me than him, because I'm white and I get so tired of hearing other whites piss and moan about how good Blacks have it today. "They get everything handed to them on a platter, while I've got to bust a gut to put bread on my table, (yada, yada, yada)." Married to an African American I've seen first hand just how "good" Blacks have it compared to whites.

What really pissed me off about the N-word incident was that here was a good, hard working man who attended segregated schools and lived through the struggle to attain legal equality, and has succeeded in earning the respect of all who know him, being reminded that no matter how hard he works, it can all be blown away momentarily by a single word.

Or maybe it's just rampant "white guilt" on my part... :shrug:

[msgadget]

6. Nah, don't dismiss your feelings

so lightly, GOP. Perhaps your feelings have something to do with manliness and vulnerability because your strong, confident friend was momentarily defenseless against an old croan.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Drive by....

is right. That woman must be a miserably small and sad person.....who suffers from very low self esteem and possibly a bit of demensia!

[Catherine Vincent]

7. He should have responded by calling her a dirty bum skank.

[Swamp Rat]

8. Sad story all the way around...

Too bad they can't walk the same street in harmony.

[msgadget]

9. Hey, Swamp Rat,

how was the event? :hi:

[Swamp Rat]

10. Jazz funeral for democracy? That's on the 20th.

:hi:

http://www.jazzfuneralfordemocracy.com/index.asp

[msgadget]

11. I'm still recovering from the holidays, obviously!

[Swamp Rat]

12. Wow! That was some New Years you had.

:+

Most folks here are resting up for that 2 week party that is Mardi Gras. We're gonna party like it's 1999 all the way to Feb. 8th - Fat Tuesday! I WILL post pictures this year. ;)