Post by smarywills on Nov 7, 2006 14:44:55 GMT -5
My friend’s dad always said, “Dirty water seeks its own level.” And, you only have to look at how Whites behave in the workplace to see how true it is. White workers and managers will do some of the most conniving things to Black workers (and even other Whites) and half the time I think its just to get us to act out, so they have something to hold over our heads later on. I’ve seen White coworkers throw papers at Black workers, scream in their faces, point in their faces, threaten Black workers, etc. And, when the Black person got buck, the White person REPORTED THEM! And, it usually owrked. The Black person would get a lecture about professionalism and their poor attitude.
Some Whites at work will get real nasty with Black folks and Black workers usually have these choices…let the White person get away with things (by not reporting them or not politely confronting them about what they’ve said or done) or sinking to the level of the dirty water and firing right back at the person with the same venom they used on us.
I hate to be ghetto at work or to behave in any way that makes me look like a stereotype. But, there’s nothing like a racist or a bully to make me lose my cool and to get my neck rolling. I have gone “point blank” on people at work because they were tripping. Here’s an example. A White coworker misread an email and then stormed to my office and started shouting at me because she said I had no right to “circumvent her authority.” That’s all I needed to hear because I don’t allow anyone, other than my mother, to scream at me. So, my neck started rolling and I said, “Let me tell you something. POINT BLANK…you are not that important to me. I don’t know who you think you are that I need to circumvent your so-called authority. If I was going to circumvent someone’s authority, wouldn’t I do it to someone more important than you?” And, so on. You get the picture. She got me. Girlfriend turned me into dirty water. But, sometimes people have it coming to them.
Now, when I feel someone bringing the “point blank” out of me, I politely ask them to continue the conversation at another time under the guise of being on a deadline. Sometimes, only breathing room will help me keep my cool. Then, I can talk to them about the issue later. My sister has a temper. So, at her government job her "dirty water" fighting technique is stop the conversation and say something like, "What you're doing right now...I don't entertain this...I can understand your excitement, but your behavior is inappropriate. If you can't stop, we don't need to continue this conversation." White people don't appreciate her saying that, but based on her personality and title, it usually works for her. When reasoning withthe person doesn't work, she calls security and has the person escorted out of the building.
What works for you, when you feel a “dirty water moment” coming on?
S. Mary Wills
theblackfactor.blogspot.com
The Black Factor is a useful resource for anyone who is Working While Black. The blog provides strategies for dealing with racially-based problems in the workplace, provides perspectives on workplace racism, and allows visitors to share experiences.
Some Whites at work will get real nasty with Black folks and Black workers usually have these choices…let the White person get away with things (by not reporting them or not politely confronting them about what they’ve said or done) or sinking to the level of the dirty water and firing right back at the person with the same venom they used on us.
I hate to be ghetto at work or to behave in any way that makes me look like a stereotype. But, there’s nothing like a racist or a bully to make me lose my cool and to get my neck rolling. I have gone “point blank” on people at work because they were tripping. Here’s an example. A White coworker misread an email and then stormed to my office and started shouting at me because she said I had no right to “circumvent her authority.” That’s all I needed to hear because I don’t allow anyone, other than my mother, to scream at me. So, my neck started rolling and I said, “Let me tell you something. POINT BLANK…you are not that important to me. I don’t know who you think you are that I need to circumvent your so-called authority. If I was going to circumvent someone’s authority, wouldn’t I do it to someone more important than you?” And, so on. You get the picture. She got me. Girlfriend turned me into dirty water. But, sometimes people have it coming to them.
Now, when I feel someone bringing the “point blank” out of me, I politely ask them to continue the conversation at another time under the guise of being on a deadline. Sometimes, only breathing room will help me keep my cool. Then, I can talk to them about the issue later. My sister has a temper. So, at her government job her "dirty water" fighting technique is stop the conversation and say something like, "What you're doing right now...I don't entertain this...I can understand your excitement, but your behavior is inappropriate. If you can't stop, we don't need to continue this conversation." White people don't appreciate her saying that, but based on her personality and title, it usually works for her. When reasoning withthe person doesn't work, she calls security and has the person escorted out of the building.
What works for you, when you feel a “dirty water moment” coming on?
S. Mary Wills
theblackfactor.blogspot.com
The Black Factor is a useful resource for anyone who is Working While Black. The blog provides strategies for dealing with racially-based problems in the workplace, provides perspectives on workplace racism, and allows visitors to share experiences.