"So much light in him!"

[Anonymous]

This was my coworker's exclamation when he was shown a picture of another coworker's son. Speaker is white, mid 50s. He's a decent man with a nice family. Married 25 years, 4 kids.

Parent of the child in the picture is biracial; the dad is black. The kid is very light skinned and appears Hispanic.

Another coworker overheard the exchange and reported the white guy for a racist comment. White guy explained (convincingly) that he meant it in a "he has so much life in him/ he's glowing in health" way.

I believe him 100% and am prepared to go to bat for him. Any reason not to if it is the truth?

[Anonymous]

I’d quit before I continued working with someone reporting a kind comment as racist. What a miserable POS human, what a terrible life they must have! Disgusting!

[Anonymous]

Tread carefully. If this 50 year old is capable of making such a comment in this day and age, without a thought for the optics, he might make other such comments, and you will end up looking bad if you defend him too strenuously.

If questioned, you can just say the truth: that you believe he did not mean anything of a racist nature.

Sorry for inserting autism into the conversation, but my husband and son are on the spectrum. I've had to talk to both several times to make sure they understand the import of certain remarks. Some people just don't have great socio-emotional sensitivity and need explicit instruction in certain explosive areas of language.

[Anonymous]

This ridiculous tip-toeing is making everyone more miserable. Was the parent in question even offended? Or was the tattle tale offended on their behalf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was my coworker's exclamation when he was shown a picture of another coworker's son. Speaker is white, mid 50s. He's a decent man with a nice family. Married 25 years, 4 kids.

Parent of the child in the picture is biracial; the dad is black. The kid is very light skinned and appears Hispanic.

Another coworker overheard the exchange and reported the white guy for a racist comment. White guy explained (convincingly) that he meant it in a "he has so much life in him/ he's glowing in health" way.

I believe him 100% and am prepared to go to bat for him. Any reason not to if it is the truth?

I can't even think of any other reasonable interpretation of his comment.

[Anonymous]

This world is unbelievable. He meant no harm. What a sad state of affairs.

[Anonymous]

When I read your title that’s what I thought - so much life in him. I can’t believe anyone took it as a racist comment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I read your title that’s what I thought - so much life in him. I can’t believe anyone took it as a racist comment

Same

[Anonymous]

OP, from a self-preservation standpoint, you stay out of it lest you somehow put a target on your back from the office busy body. That would be the reason to stay out of it.

Sometimes the "truth" isn't enough if the company just wants to make an issue or headache go away.

That said, it would be a good and kind thing to stick up for your co-worker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This ridiculous tip-toeing is making everyone more miserable. Was the parent in question even offended? Or was the tattle tale offended on their behalf?

It’s truly ridiculous and also contributes to the decline in basic social skills. People are so afraid to say anything to anyone anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I read your title that’s what I thought - so much life in him. I can’t believe anyone took it as a racist comment

Same

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d quit before I continued working with someone reporting a kind comment as racist. What a miserable POS human, what a terrible life they must have! Disgusting!

+1000 at a minimum no one should talk to this person. This is why you can't socialize at work with anyone you have to stay to yourself. I bet their is a letter/record in his file now. Insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was my coworker's exclamation when he was shown a picture of another coworker's son. Speaker is white, mid 50s. He's a decent man with a nice family. Married 25 years, 4 kids.

Parent of the child in the picture is biracial; the dad is black. The kid is very light skinned and appears Hispanic.

Another coworker overheard the exchange and reported the white guy for a racist comment. White guy explained (convincingly) that he meant it in a "he has so much life in him/ he's glowing in health" way.

I believe him 100% and am prepared to go to bat for him. Any reason not to if it is the truth?

So messed up. I would totally go to bat for my coworker. Go talk to HR tomorrow. Right this wrong.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is your role in this situation? Are you the supervisor of the 50 yo person married for 25 years with 4 kids (none of these details relevant to this situation in any way, BTW)? His direct report? An onlooker?

If I were HR in this situation I would be wondering why you were involving yourself. You don't report having actually witnessed the interaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I read your title that’s what I thought - so much life in him. I can’t believe anyone took it as a racist comment

+1
Non-white mom with mixed race family