Do you have a problem with a black man?

[FLyellowdog]

That's the question that was asked of me today when I was trying to find someone to wash/wax my car for me (I'm a 64 year old grandmother, so don't judge me). Anyway, I figured the tire dealership where I trade might be able to recommend a place or someone to help me. As it turns out, there was a man working there who does this kind of work. But the owner felt he had to ask first, "Do yu have a problem with a blck man?" After I caught my breath, I said "Well, of course not." So he introduced me to a really nice man named Keith who will wash and wax my car for me tomorrow. Oh, by the way, his skin is dark so he must be black. Who knew? :shrug:

[PDJane]

1. oy.

just....oy.

My comment might have been something like, "Can he do the job?"

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Per the 4 Agreeements: Take nothing

Personally. ;-) For all we know? He JUST got done dealing with a bigot who went up one side of him and down the other for NOT asking the question.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FLyellowdog]

9. I wouldn't be a bit surprised. nt

[Vickers]

10. That's the way I looked at it, too. I imagine he has gotten his fair share of

"Why did you send me to that black feller?"

[Better Today]

3. Okay, clearly the owner is not a racist or he wouldn't hire the man or recommend him, and

it is well known by now that most of the teapartiers are elderly and white and racist, and bravo to the owner for being well informed about that because it indicates he is in touch with left-of-center information and facts. I think you were just profiled in a way. He is looking at you, seeing a potential teabagger, and trying to protect himself and his employee from problems, should you happen to have been one of those.

I'm wondering what state you live in? I know around here, one of the top three reddest states, I could easily see a left-of-center owner doing exactly that. Perhaps ungraceful, but easier to deal with that, than to have "her", if she/you were in fact a hard RWinger, insult his employee upon seeing that he was black/darker.

[FLyellowdog]

5. This is in western North Carolina.

I guess your assessment would be understandable, but I DO hate to be profiled as an elderly,white,racist. The guy and I hit it off great and he knew from the beginning that I'm not a bigot. I'm still shocked that the incident even happened. I so wanted this type of thing to be over in the 60's. :hi:

[Better Today]

13. No doubt, I agree this sort of thing should be over and done with years ago.

And I'm sorry you were profiled, perhaps he should've known better, but I do sort of understand potential reasons for his comment.

[uponit7771]

6. Racism doesn't begin or end at hatred towards a group of people

[Better Today]

14. And what's your point?

[Yavin4]

7. Your Story Reminds Me of Another My Own Story

I went to business school with a guy, a conservative asshat, who owned his own landscapping business, and he once told me that he couldn't staff certain jobs with this one guy because he was African American.

[FLyellowdog]

8. I hate generalizations like that..nt

[JI7]

11. What if you said you did have a problem with a black man ?

i wonder if he would have had someone else do the job or just refused to do the job.

but only reason he would ask this is if he had a lot of other people who had problems when they saw it was a black guy.

[FLyellowdog]

12. I'm guessing he would have suggested I go somewhere else...

As strange as it seems to me, I can actually imagine some elderly white "southern belle" saying she'd rather not have the guy do the work. The old south mentality around here is mind boggling.

[proteus_lives]

15. Sounds like he was looking out for Keith.

[FLyellowdog]

16. The owner is a nice guy, so that could be.

[FLyellowdog]

17. My car looks FANTASTIC today!