Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP's example did not have any "for a _____" qualifier to the compliment at all! That is why she's completely reaching, IMO. This level of defensiveness will cause well-meaning people who would have otherwise bothered to try, to just avoid an interaction. Then they'll be castigated by the other person for being indifferent or some such. SMH....

Because you don’t have to actually use those literal words to get the message across. To think otherwise is a 3rd grader’s understanding of racism.

Anonymous wrote:I understand what you are saying OP. It's like when people hear an African American professional athlete give an interview and say "wow, he is so well-spoken."

Anonymous wrote:Holy crap.

I've seen many teacher presentations which were poorly done. Mostly white teachers.

So I would also be inclined to compliment a teacher for a particularly clear helpful and well-done presentation to let them know I appreciate their hard work.

Guess I am a racist. I hate you people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to NOT GO THERE.

It was a compliment.

Every single word out of ever white person's mouth to a black person does not need to be analyses.

Maybe so. I asked because I really liked the teacher and hated the idea that she'd come away from the evening thinking ill of the parents because some were condescending.

Anonymous wrote:The OP's example did not have any "for a _____" qualifier to the compliment at all! That is why she's completely reaching, IMO. This level of defensiveness will cause well-meaning people who would have otherwise bothered to try, to just avoid an interaction. Then they'll be castigated by the other person for being indifferent or some such. SMH....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a white teacher. I'd be flattered if someone described my work as "professional". It's a compliment. Nothing more.

I have no clue why you think that is a race issue. I'm more worried about the fact that you were noting the color of everyone.

Part of it was the tone in which the comment was made, which I can't replicate here.

But the responses to date suggest it's over-analysis on my part. I'm happy to hear that. I want the teacher to feel welcome in the community.

White people are always rude and patronizing to blacks. Then when you point it out, they want to cry, make themselves the victim, and claim you are too sensitive about their micro aggressions and passive aggressive comments.

Most (not all) black people learn to deal with this by the age of 30. But then it starts to wear on your nerves so you never know if you are going to get a smile back, or if the person is going to respond with snark.

If you respond with snark...here comes another rude comment about the "angry black syndrome". If you say nothing, you are saying it is okay and the cycle will continue with another clueless dingbat going off in the world to annoy others. It's a tough spot to be in. But at least you noticed.

Anonymous wrote:You need to NOT GO THERE.

It was a compliment.

Every single word out of ever white person's mouth to a black person does not need to be analyses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooo, let me get this straight, if a white person compliments a black person, then the white person is racist.

If a white person compliments someone for something that includes the implication "for a black person" e.g. you are very professional/smart/well dressed/well spoken "for a black person" then yes, it's racist. That's not really a genuine compliment just a back handed one at best.