Was late for the self check in at a kiosk.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

It was supposed to shut down 45 minutes before the flight but I was at the airport an hour before my departure and couldn't use it.

While standing in line for the next counter clerk to check me in as people with large bags took their time I asked if anyone else in line had the same problem and a young black guy about five people back said his attempt failed too. He was on the same flight as me to LAX and like me, had a shuttle scheduled at the other end. When I got to the counter I mentioned him to the lady and she told him to come forward and she did us both together. Then told us to run. TSA took three minutes. (I timed it) after that he said, "I'm following you Boss" as we made a bee line for the gate. As we dashed for our flight I said, "Don't call me "boss", since Obama, you could be MY boss." He was all grins as we shook hands as we ran. We made the flight.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. Great Story ...

You probably made that guy's day.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. I had a black boss back in the 80s....

...he did the interview late so I went to his home so I got to meet his family.

His first question was, "Do you mind working for a black man?" He must have had problems with that in the past. That must be the worse nightmare for a racist. It's no wonder they're going insane. We became good friends after and he has since moved to Hawaii to retire. We still exchange e-cards at Christmas.

[mrmpa]

9. Back in 1981........

My car broke down in a predominantly Black area of town. I had to walk into a bar to use the phone to call my Dad and for a tow. When I walked out to the street, about 3 men from the bar exited and took up places in entrances to 3 businesses. I was 25, and played it cool, but was a bit nervous. None of them men said anything to me & just stood in their places.

About 30 minutes later, my Dad showed up, got out of his car, while approaching me, one man left his post and said "Hey, Dan is this your daughter, we were keeping an eye out for her." My Dad, looked at him, then me, and introduced me to his foreman.

It was cool, any worries I might have had disappeared.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. What part of the country was that?

[mrmpa]

16. Pittsburgh...........home of the Black & Gold........eom

[Spitfire of ATJ]

25. Yeah, some of those middle class steel workers really know how to get along.

Maybe it's the union brotherhood that forms a bond. I saw that amongst UAW workers in Michigan.

[mrmpa]

29. Dad and his foreman worked for the railroad.......

Both were members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance & Way Workers. The foreman remained a member & was paid at a higher rate to perform the foreman duties.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. Cool. My grandfather worked for the Grand Trunk for 40 years.

Before that, his father and his father before him worked for the railroad.

I have one of these handed down.

http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/M17008&section=196

[siligut]

2. Good all around story

Glad you both made your flight.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. Unfortunately I was stuck back in the tail section.

Last seat on the right so I was one of the last ones off so I didn't see him again.

I hope he thinks twice before using that "boss" line in the future. I hear that from some Hispanics too. It's not like I'm in a suit or anything. I'm usually in $15 jeans from Kmart or shorts and a t-shirt with sneakers.

[siligut]

20. I knew a white guy from NOLA who called other men boss

Maybe it is common there. I also heard a young guy in California use it casually while handing out boxed lunches. The male he said it to, told him not to call him that and this young, white male seemed taken aback, though probably because it seemed like he was getting a reprimand rather than respect.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. I've heard that too.

Saying "boss" in a cynical manner is kinda cool if it's done right.

[greytdemocrat]

3. Cute story!!

Except for the "since Obama" part.

[lastlib]

4. could be since LBJ...

...Jus' sayin'.....

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. yeah...cause black people couldn't be 'boss' before President Obama took office...

holy shit...

sP

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. You don't get it. There is a tendency for some black guys to call a white guy "boss"

It's done to show "respect" but it automatically puts them in a lower role.

That needs to end.

[HipChick]

10. agree..I found this story a tad patronizing..on my last flight the pilot was black

and folks were treating him as if he was a FA

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. A "free agent"?

[Mariana]

21. A Flight Attendant. nt.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. Gotcha.

It's like Americans acting like there are no skilled surgeons in third world countries. As if things like a compound fracture are treated with a dancing ritual by someone in costume.

[HipChick]

18. Sounds like a Southern 'thing'..

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. I know. But I hear it in California.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

26. i get it...

and it still has nothing to do with Obama...

sP

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. Tell that to the racist Right Wing.

They're DETERMINED to stop his example.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. Oh sure, like Obama wasn't THE major game changer.

[NightWatcher]

12. Um, I've had two bosses that were of African American heritage. One even owned the company, Shocking

You are aware that Obama wasnt the first boss of color, right?


Smells kinda fishy and contrived to me

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Oh, sheeze... Read the rest of the posts...

You'll get the drift,....maybe....

[NCTraveler]

17. "Don't call me "boss", since Obama, you could be MY boss."

It wasn't the grin you think it was. He probably felt very uncomfortable after that comment.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. Not with the handshake he spontaniously offered.

[RC]

28. Not everyone is hung up on being politically correct.