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[quote=Anonymous]Yes, these things happen and I appreciate the struggle of African Americans and the continuing struggle in so many areas. I teach my white daughter each day to love people for what is on the inside, not the color of their skin.  She has several black friends in school and I adore them all.  My daughter does not know "race".

On the other hand, as a white woman I worked for the DC Government for a short time in a public service/customer service role there.  Several times a customer asked if they could have the black representative instead when I said "May I help you?"   This was in addition to comments made to me by other black professionals on my level that wouldn't be acceptable if I had said these things to them.  Yep, I'm a honky from the 'burbs, what can I say?  I also like to give people a chance:  if you are nice to me and accepting of me, I will show you the same.  I never responded  to any of these remarks, because I was afraid of the consequences.  I felt beaten and unable to bark back, so to speak.  Too much trouble so I always remained quiet and did my work.

Then, I went to the Federal Government.  Oh my lord.  I have had such comments handed to me over my 20 year career in an agency.  Things like "what were you and your husband doing in such and such neighborhood (a  black one), come live in my shoes, and other rude, racist comments.  We have had active EEO offices that run programs, etc. on being accepting of all in the workplace and I appreciate those.   I have also seen many African Americans promoted in my agencies..some who earned it and some who were poor workers and did not.

I am babbling, but the comments I have received over the years frustrate me, personally.  I remain quiet when an African American says something stupid to me because I am too afraid to bark back lest I be viewed as racist.  Very fiustrating

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