Ten Harmless Racist Remarks

Comments that Make Me Think You Are Racist

By A. Hermitt, published Oct 02, 2006
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As a black person who tries to ingnore or pretend racism does not exist, from time to time, it sitll gets under my skin.  Here are ten harmless remarks that make me think a person is racist.


Harmless rasict remark 1. “You are not like those other black people”. The first time I heard this, I did not know what to say. What do you say to that? Errr… Thanks? Now I know to say, “No thanks”. I am like those other black people. I am black. There is nothing more or nothing less. How I could be more or less black by demeanor or behavior is a mystery to me. 

Harmless rasict remark 2. “I have Black Friends”. My response is… SO! Should I applaud? Should I bow to my knees and praise the almighty friend of the black people. I have white friends, but I do not wear a banner that proclaims it. 

Harmless rasict remark 3. Comparing them to a random black star: My husband was once personally affronted at a business function. The company was comparing employees (all white) to celebrities. In all of the comparisons, there was an obvious connection in demeanor or look. The last person on the screen was my husband (not white). He was compared to Snoop Dog. Snoop Dog???? Everyone roared with laughter. OK. Stop for a minute and picture my husband. He has been mistaken for Arsenio Hall in his younger days, and most recently Mr. Bigsley on the Disney TV Show, the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. His personality is a lot like Carlton, the cousin of The Fresh Prince. Was Snoop Dog the only celebrity they could find? Not only was my husband not amused, but also his feelings were hurt. 

Harmless rasict remark 4. Why do black people…? (fill in the blank) Honestly, in most cases, we do not know. I have been asked why black people did not leave New Orleans, why black men wear saggy pants, and why do black people talk in movies. You know what; the next time you catch me talking in movie theatre stop and ask me then. My favorite question is “Why do black women have attitudes? It is probably because of all the stupid questions! 

 
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Ten Harmless Racist Remarks

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Takeaways
  • I never understood how I am unlike other black people.
  • Whether or not you have black friends is irrelevant
  • Black people don't have a liscence on making racist remarks
Did You Know?
The first step in racial unity is education. This article is not meant to inflame, but to educate.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
 
 
...co-worker telling me over the phone that he just loved "Barbershop" because of Cedric the Entertainer saying, "Fuck Jesse Jackson and the guys stealing the ATM." I said, "Really? I liked the movie because of the gentrification that was shown throughout the film, as well as the conversations that were had about owning a Black business in a community that does not fund it well." The co-worker went, "Oh yeah. I guess the movie was about gentrification," and then there was an uncomfortable pause, all before he said something about "gettin' jiggy with it." I went on to explain to him that the slang term "jiggy" had not been used in years since Will Smith made the song "Gettin' Jiggy With It'" almost a decade ago. I don't necessarily think that a person who makes statements like this is racist. Racist means one race is superior to another. I do think they may be ignorant of the culture though. And the only way to improve ignorance is to learn from it.

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Posted on 05/25/2008 at 12:05:16 PM

 
DreahWrites, I stopped by this article because I found it interesting. I have a few pieces of feedback though. Please ask AC to let you correct the spelling of "racist." It's spelled "rasict" throughout your article, and that's going to immediately distract readers. I'm not trying to be funny. I'm really being honest because I kept staring at it. I see where you were going with this piece, but I can't say I agree with anything but number 1, 5, 9, and 10. The rest really are just questions. I personally would rather someone of another culture ask me all those dumb questions (such as the ones you mentioned) so I can clarify a few things. I think if White people stopped asking those kinds of questions, then that's when more and more stereotypes build up. I'll take curiosity over fear any day. I recall many times when White co-workers would bring up some random movie or song with a Black person as the lead, and say, "I thought about you when I heard this song." Ummm...why? I remember a Whi

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Posted on 05/25/2008 at 12:05:59 PM

 
i think you need to calm down... just because people as question doesn't make them racist .... if a black person asked a white person about something they did then they wouldn't take it as a rasict remark, just curiosity and theres nothing wrong with that... and your husband was compared to snoop dogg... there was no rasicm in that just a joke.. someone having a laugh... you should try it some time instead of trying to be soooooooo political correct!!!!!!!

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Posted on 04/15/2008 at 5:04:03 PM

 
Some of us white people are just curious about you and your people. I don't think there is anything wrong with asking you questions. Sheesh, lighten up!

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Posted on 01/20/2008 at 8:01:08 PM

 
It all goes back to how you are raised. We are not born racist....it is something we are taught. Parents need to learn to set good examples for their children and disipline them for the things they do and say that are wrong. I thank god every day for having good parents who instilled good values in me at a very young age.Who taught me that i was no better than anyone else in this world and to treat everyone the same. That the only way to get respect is to give it. For all the parents out there be careful what you say in front of your children. When you speak to others they watch and listen to you very closly and they are learning how to act from you.

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Posted on 11/02/2007 at 2:11:00 PM

 
thanks for the comment buddy!

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Posted on 10/28/2006 at 11:10:00 PM

 
I don't have black friends. It is not because I wouldn't, but simply the fact that where I live in New Hampshire has a very small black population. I have black buddies.AHEM. However, I would never even consider differentiating between my friends or buddies by the color of their skin, the size of their waist, or the length of their hair. A friend is a friend. I don't consider any of these comments to be "harmless." The word I would use is ignorant. And the "N" word pisses me off like no other word in the history of language.

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Posted on 10/28/2006 at 8:10:00 PM

 
Wow! What a dumb thing to say!

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Posted on 10/04/2006 at 6:10:00 PM

 
I'm Oglala Lakota, and I can relate! My personal favorite tactless comment was this blonde girl in college interrupting a conversation I was having with another Indian friend and saying, "But you all smoke pot in your peace pipes, right?" Needless to say I about died on the spot and while the question was highly offensive, I spent ten minutes explaining "we don't call them peace pipes, just pipes, and no we do not smoke pot in them, that would be disrespectful because it is hallucinogenic, and they are considered sacred, and a part of our spirituality."

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Posted on 10/04/2006 at 4:10:00 PM

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