Over the past few weeks I've observed an intriguing phenomenon at work, but first a little context. I enjoy a work place diverse in age, race, and experiences. My particular field attracts many people with former law enforcement and military backgrounds making my workplace male dominated by nature. I wouldn't say my department is testosterone driven to the point of spontaneous flexing bouts to see whose latissimus dorsi is more pronounced, but we have our fair of passionate conversations about sports, women, and other socially pre-designated "guy" stuff. We're all pretty laid back and comfortable with one another, with very little one-upmanship that tends to emerge in male dominated environments.
Oh, and penis jokes. The place is rife with'em. We specialize in the "Deez Nutz!" brand with each successful execution awarded with hoots and hollers.
Example:
Worker 1: "These pieces need to be verified and put away."
Worker 2: "Yeah, but what about these?"
Worker 1: "These? These what?"
Worker 2: "DEEEZZZ NUUTTTZZZ!!!
Worker 3: DDDAAAAAAMNNNN!!!!!
Worker 4: WWOOAAAAAAAHHHH!!
Worker 5: CALIENTE!! (My personal addition.)
You get the picture.
The banter from time to time becomes racial, drawing on the stereotypes of our respective races. For a while I was the only black employee in my department, so I became known as the "white-black" guy so to speak.
I don't use much Ebonics and am told that I am well-spoken. I tuck in my work shirt and try to speak politely to my coworkers. I'm not that good at dancing and basketball. It's known that I don't listen to rap music much and I enjoy reading and philosophy. To be honest, I've always been this way, so the designation was hardly new or original for that matter. The joking wasn't everyday, and for the most part the jokes were fleeting and light hearted. But every once in while I'd hear something that would betray a hint of ignorance or even racism from certain individuals. But those situations were fewer and I generally dismissed them.
The phenomenon that caught my attention occurred with the addition of two more black males. I found myself wondering if they thought I acted "white" or betrayed some sort of self-hatred regarding my race. So one day I just asked them. To my surprise, they just saw some weird, goofy guy that would throw out a "big" word from time to time. Not a white man in black skin. Not a black guy trying to be white. They saw me. It made me think.
I am clueless as to why this has no comments. This is an awsome post. One of my best friends from back home gets the same kind of attention brought up when we hang out. Wherever we go, he was always refered to as the "white black kid." Coming from me, a white male, I didnt get what it meant and still don't. Steve is just one of my good buddies and I personally don't think he acts any way except "himself". This blog was honestly really cool, and the DEEEZ NUTZ jokes always make things more entertaining.
ReplyDelete