Comments on: Probably Shouldn’t Say Anything

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:36:22 +0000

Incognegro is hilarious.

I have a similar problem in that a large chunk of my family is Honduran and I look as white as it gets. I’ll run into people shrieking “Mexicans,” getting offended when people are speaking Spanish amongst themselves, or worse yet, saying that “they make great laborers.” And sometimes I just don’t feel like having an argument so I just seethe a little and let it go.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:13:47 +0000

Making me think about how the economy pushes us all back in to all sorts of silences out of the natural fear of losing a job or a client. Ugh.

By: laura

laura — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:22:51 +0000

omg, SERIOUSLY? i think i would’ve twitched myself silly if someone said that and my ears heard it.

wowsers.

for what it’s worth, an EXCELLENT book on the subject of “passing” is called, actually, _Passing_ by Nella Larsen. i highly recommend. did much of my master’s work in african-american literature, particularly of the 20th century, and this book was eye-opening beyond words for me.

love your blog.

with love from pittsburgh,
laura

By: Faiqa

Faiqa — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:46:53 +0000

You know what upsets me the most? That this crap doesn’t surprise me, at all. I don’t know what upsets me more, people who want to pretend that race doesn’t matter or people who want to pretend that it’s all that matters. Sigh. I suppose your friend should say something, but I’ve been in similar circumstances and just shook my head and said, not worth it.

I know that sounds terribly apathetic, but I’m apprehensive of having to face the actual resistance people would offer to doing the right thing. Something about losing faith in humanity, etc.

By: angie

angie — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:25:19 +0000

Let me say that this article just jumped off the screen at me. I mean, I was so engrossed that when I got a phone call, which interrupted my reading, I had a hard time shifting my focus.

That’s just to say that these matters of race and complexion, etc have always been so interesting to me. If you were going to say anything, what would it be? Just between you and me?

I mean, I would have to say something like ‘PULLLEASE!” And the like. How delicious to be ‘passing’ so you (I mean your friend) can be a fly on the wall, such as it is, and overhear all these heartfelt comments. The rest of us who are closer to the paper bag are led to believe that nobody is thinking about this stuff except us. So nice of Harry Reid and Chris Matthews to set us straight.

Oh, and Happy Chocolate Month! (My husband calls me vanilla, btw–he is so deceived)

By: D.

D. — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:40:44 +0000

Ugh, YUCK. How can people be so blasted ignorant? I say this as a half-Asian, half-Caucasian woman who easily passes for white who still routinely hears people use words like “Oriental” to describe Asian people. Meaning, I shouldn’t really be surprised that this kind of language is still so pervasive, but STILL.

By: NaysWay

NaysWay — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:55:52 +0000

You’d be surprised (or maybe not) how much that thought resides in the back of most minds. I’m not light skinned, but I have some pretty European/Anglo-Saxon features. I literally had my supervisor ask me (after my first day of work, no less) what I was mixed with. What’s worse? She said she’d meant to ask me in my interview. I wish she had. I might not have been working there now. And now that my daughters have wavy hair and dark skin, they both get a lot of “How did THAT happen? Aren’t you black?!” Seriously, 2010?

By: Deathstar

Deathstar — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:35:24 +0000

Natika suggested your blog to me… and when I came across this post I just feel I have to comment. Reminded me of the time I was temping in a law office and the supervisor just HAD TO ASK me what all the fuss was about because SHOWBOAT was opening in town. Ah, yes. Negro, please. That is so antebellum South!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:36:11 +0000

I wish I could pretend this didn’t still happen, that people didn’t have to fear speaking up about something so incredibly ignorant because it might make their job situation uncomfortable or even at risk. I wish that I could say I understand, but I can’t. I’m a white girl and won’t ever experience that same situation, but even reading it made me cringe, made me physically ill. I don’t even really know what to say.

I could not get over Chris Matthews “forgetting” that our President is black. Could not even believe it. What kind of asinine implications that bears?!! Should we need to forget? It doesn’t even MAKE SENSE. It is ignorant and distasteful and gross, really.

Thank you for posting this. I guess, for reminding us all to appreciate everyone’s backgrounds and to make no assumptions, for being honest about something that gets ignored at every corner.

By: Lagata

Lagata — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:38:40 +0000

I remember when I was a receptionist in a shop and a man came in and asked if that “coloured” man was here. I asked him, “what colour was he”? He started to stammer and said – well, I don’t know what to call “them”. I was just shocked. I said to him, well, you can start with his name, which is Danny. I was only 19 at the time, I don’t know if I handled the situation well or not, I can still remember the deep hurt I felt when he said that though. It amazes me that the youth of today are still so ignorant.