work comment I didn't know how to handle..
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Anonymous
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I am a relatively new employee in a small unit in a government agency. Thing afternoon, I was discussing work issues with two other women. One of my new colleagues, who is African American, was disclosing that she had been passed over for promotions. She has been there quite awhile apparently and she is African American.
I am Caucasian. She said to me "You will do well here and you will be left alone because you are white". I felt so bad and didn't know where to look. I just said "I'm so sorry" and put my head down and went back to work. What should I have said? I didn't know what to say. |
Anonymous
| you did nothing wrong. totally inappropriate of her to mention that and to bring you into it. |
Anonymous
| She obviously has a chip on her shoulder and she is not someone to hang with. You also have no idea why she was passed over..frankly someone who says something like that to a new employee probably has poor judgement and that may very well be why she was passed over. I actually think you did the right thing..there is no good to come from engaging her on this topic..she sounds like trouble. If you feel, after working there, that there is a problem with racisim..you can ask to be transferred..I wouldn't want to work around a bunch of racists if that were the case. |
Anonymous
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Welcome to the Federal government.
You do nothing; you just ignore comments like that. |
Anonymous
| Yikes, red alert. Be very careful how you interact with her. |
Anonymous
| So now you know why she's been passed. There's nothing with being black. She has horrible attitude. |
Anonymous
+1 Every Federal office has an older, angry woman. |
Anonymous
| Say nothing. Don't get involved with BS drama. |
Anonymous
 +1
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Anonymous
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PP here. Thanks. I guess I did the right thing. We work in the same area doing some of the same functions, so it isn't like I can keep a safe distance or ignore her completely ..really small staff. I must interact at various times during the day on some similar work that we both have our hands on.
I try to be fair and friendly and cooperative to and with all coworkers. Kinda sad.. |
Anonymous
PP here. No, she isn't the oldest. She is, in fact, one of the youngest. But very angry. |
Anonymous
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16:53 ++
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Anonymous
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You don't say anything. How unprofessional of her. She shouldn't have said that, but maybe she was trying to be friendly in an odd way.
Sadly I am not surprised at some of these ignorant comments. Must be nice to be white and ignorant. Everything is happppyyyy lalalalalaaaaa you damn negros get that chip off your shouuuuldddeersssss all is well. |
Anonymous
| Not exclusive of race. Be careful or you may be her one day. You handled it well. |
Anonymous
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Not understanding why folks are labeling the woman angry. You were discussing work issues and she told you about her issues. The white comment was uncalled for though.
Those who are white just do not understand the discrimination that takes place. Many times, blacks are seen as admin only, never management material. I won't even bother to go into it. Many won't understand and will pull the "angry black woman/chip on your shoulder" BS instead of recognizing that these things happen. |