work comment I didn't know how to handle..

[Anonymous]

It's fine to think that, not fine to say. It's probably true anyway.

But reporting her? Talk about tattletales!! Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:stay clear of her. The irony is that only the federal government would hire such an idiot, she's lucky to be employed

I've worked in the federal government for years. You see idiots all the time of both races. I do recall telling some of my afro american co workers that the food they were eating smelled good and asked where they got it? I was just trying to be friendly. I was told by one afro woman "We got it in a neighborhood you don't want to be seen in" (Meaning because I am white). I just walked away. What if I said "My husband and I had dinner at x and x country club in McClean last night" when asked. And then said to a afro person "not a neighborhood you want to be found in". Wouldn't go over too well.

I get sick of the whole thing. Just try to treat all with respect.

She could've just meant that the neighborhood was dangerous. Not you as a "white" person, but you as a person in general (who values your safety).
BTW, it's African American.

That's their point, you wouldn't feel "safe" because you are minority in their neighborhood. You feel unsafe merely by becoming a minority. You equate a black neighborhood as automatically being unsafe.

[Anonymous]

half of federal employee's think they were passed over for one reason or another (color, race, age, sex, etc). that's why EEO offices have two year backlogs handling cases....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:stay clear of her. The irony is that only the federal government would hire such an idiot, she's lucky to be employed

I've worked in the federal government for years. You see idiots all the time of both races. I do recall telling some of my afro american co workers that the food they were eating smelled good and asked where they got it? I was just trying to be friendly. I was told by one afro woman "We got it in a neighborhood you don't want to be seen in" (Meaning because I am white). I just walked away. What if I said "My husband and I had dinner at x and x country club in McClean last night" when asked. And then said to a afro person "not a neighborhood you want to be found in". Wouldn't go over too well.

I get sick of the whole thing. Just try to treat all with respect.

She could've just meant that the neighborhood was dangerous. Not you as a "white" person, but you as a person in general (who values your safety).
BTW, it's African American.

That's their point, you wouldn't feel "safe" because you are minority in their neighborhood. You feel unsafe merely by becoming a minority. You equate a black neighborhood as automatically being unsafe.

Uhmmmm, no. I'm black and was raised in the projects of DC. My mother still lives in a bad area. If I were to buy something to eat from a restaurant near her house, I might include that warning to those who aren't of the "raised in a poor dangerous area and know how to handle themselves" ilk. Could be white, black, brown, etc.

The country club scenario is about possible discrimination/racism; the "this place is in the hood, so be careful" thing is different. Like it or not, some places in the DC area are dangerous as hell and you shouldn't walk in blinded to the truth.

[Anonymous]

One comment cannot create a hostile work environement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

THIS

+1

[phone]

Ok, maybe she has been the victim of discrimintation, and maybe she hasn't. It's still unprofessional to make that comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:stay clear of her. The irony is that only the federal government would hire such an idiot, she's lucky to be employed

I've worked in the federal government for years. You see idiots all the time of both races. I do recall telling some of my afro american co workers that the food they were eating smelled good and asked where they got it? I was just trying to be friendly. I was told by one afro woman "We got it in a neighborhood you don't want to be seen in" (Meaning because I am white). I just walked away. What if I said "My husband and I had dinner at x and x country club in McClean last night" when asked. And then said to a afro person "not a neighborhood you want to be found in". Wouldn't go over too well.

I get sick of the whole thing. Just try to treat all with respect.

She could've just meant that the neighborhood was dangerous. Not you as a "white" person, but you as a person in general (who values your safety).
BTW, it's African American.

That's their point, you wouldn't feel "safe" because you are minority in their neighborhood. You feel unsafe merely by becoming a minority. You equate a black neighborhood as automatically being unsafe.

Uhmmmm, no. I'm black and was raised in the projects of DC. My mother still lives in a bad area. If I were to buy something to eat from a restaurant near her house, I might include that warning to those who aren't of the "raised in a poor dangerous area and know how to handle themselves" ilk. Could be white, black, brown, etc.

The country club scenario is about possible discrimination/racism; the "this place is in the hood, so be careful" thing is different. Like it or not, some places in the DC area are dangerous as hell and you shouldn't walk in blinded to the truth.

I was the PP who asked about the food to a colleague. I didn't get the sense that the response made by the woman was a warning out of concern for my safety. SHe and her friends laughed when she said it. There wasn't a tone of concern for my safety, more as if they had made a joke. THat was the last time I spoke much to her or paid her a compliment. I just figured I couldn't win. This happened to me more than once in my government agency. After all.. who am I? Just some dumb surburban white chick who has had it all!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a business owner and I am going to disagree with almost everyone on here. Her words are hostile on the basis race. You need to report it.

A couple of thoughts, Business Owner, from an employment lawyer.

1. One comment ia not a hostile work environment.
2. If you punish someone for their involvement in the EEO process, you are engaging in retaliation, which is actually much more actionable than discrimination. So when you as a business owner take it upon yourself to punish or "report" that someone feels they are discriminated against, whether they have really been discriminated against or not -- you are retaliating, which is illegal.
3. Federal employees are entitled to express their opinions that the workplace is racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a business owner and I am going to disagree with almost everyone on here. Her words are hostile on the basis race. You need to report it.

A couple of thoughts, Business Owner, from an employment lawyer.

1. One comment ia not a hostile work environment.
2. If you punish someone for their involvement in the EEO process, you are engaging in retaliation, which is actually much more actionable than discrimination. So when you as a business owner take it upon yourself to punish or "report" that someone feels they are discriminated against, whether they have really been discriminated against or not -- you are retaliating, which is illegal.
3. Federal employees are entitled to express their opinions that the workplace is racist.

This made me smile. Love it when someone who actually knows what they are talking about steps in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:stay clear of her. The irony is that only the federal government would hire such an idiot, she's lucky to be employed

I've worked in the federal government for years. You see idiots all the time of both races. I do recall telling some of my afro american co workers that the food they were eating smelled good and asked where they got it? I was just trying to be friendly. I was told by one afro woman "We got it in a neighborhood you don't want to be seen in" (Meaning because I am white). I just walked away. What if I said "My husband and I had dinner at x and x country club in McClean last night" when asked. And then said to a afro person "not a neighborhood you want to be found in". Wouldn't go over too well.

I get sick of the whole thing. Just try to treat all with respect.

She could've just meant that the neighborhood was dangerous. Not you as a "white" person, but you as a person in general (who values your safety).
BTW, it's African American.

That's their point, you wouldn't feel "safe" because you are minority in their neighborhood. You feel unsafe merely by becoming a minority. You equate a black neighborhood as automatically being unsafe.

Uhmmmm, no. I'm black and was raised in the projects of DC. My mother still lives in a bad area. If I were to buy something to eat from a restaurant near her house, I might include that warning to those who aren't of the "raised in a poor dangerous area and know how to handle themselves" ilk. Could be white, black, brown, etc.

The country club scenario is about possible discrimination/racism; the "this place is in the hood, so be careful" thing is different. Like it or not, some places in the DC area are dangerous as hell and you shouldn't walk in blinded to the truth.

I was the PP who asked about the food to a colleague. I didn't get the sense that the response made by the woman was a warning out of concern for my safety. SHe and her friends laughed when she said it. There wasn't a tone of concern for my safety, more as if they had made a joke. THat was the last time I spoke much to her or paid her a compliment. I just figured I couldn't win. This happened to me more than once in my government agency. After all.. who am I? Just some dumb surburban white chick who has had it all!!

Not defending her and maybe she was being cruel, but I'm telling you that if I made that comment to a coworker, I would say it in a joking way too.

In all honestly, many people from the suburbs (all races included) would look vulnerable as hell in a bad neighborhood. Though I was raised in tough surroundings, my children are suburban kids. It's amazing how they have such a different and more trusting (some might even say naive) look about life and people.

In any event, I'm sorry this happened. Was just trying to show you how this comment might not have the negative intent that you originally believed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Then why not look at the qualities of SUCCESSFUL people - in particular, successful minorities - and apply them to your lives?

We do that at our high school - bring in as many successful people as possible to discuss goal setting, workforce, issues, the definition of professionalism, etc.

Find a professional network to joint - b/c maybe it's not a racial issue.

[Anonymous]

Chip on shoulder. End of story.

By the way, those of you who are correcting "black" to "African American" are free to refer to those of us whom you usually call "white" as "European American."

Of course I'm not serious. And of course I'm referring to you as "black." Get over it. You're just as bad as Angry Older Worker Woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

THIS

+1

[phone]

Ok, maybe she has been the victim of discrimintation, and maybe she hasn't. It's still unprofessional to make that comment.

All three of them were unprofessional complaining about work instead of working. That includes the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chip on shoulder. End of story.

By the way, those of you who are correcting "black" to "African American" are free to refer to those of us whom you usually call "white" as "European American."

Of course I'm not serious. And of course I'm referring to you as "black." Get over it. You're just as bad as Angry Older Worker Woman.

You aren't too bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chip on shoulder. End of story.

By the way, those of you who are correcting "black" to "African American" are free to refer to those of us whom you usually call "white" as "European American."

Of course I'm not serious. And of course I'm referring to you as "black." Get over it. You're just as bad as Angry Older Worker Woman.

You aren't too bright.

?? What part of the above post seemed unintelligent? Or could you just not think of an appropriate comeback?