Current Events > White people of CE. I have a question. How would you feel about this?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I just got off work tonight and I had an interaction with a co-worker that has been.. bothering me? I guess thats the term Ill use. Nothing bad or disrespectful happened here.

I live in a rural town in Georgia. I was talking with one of my co-workers about the George Floyd updates. We are both Black. I feel this is relevant. We are talking pretty quiet about it because living in this area.. it just feels.. safer? for us to not be publicizing our opinions on race in general. That could be the wrong idea. Maybe its a fear in the back of my mind. Not sure.

Anyway, a white coworker heard us talking and she asked us if we mind telling her our opinion on whats happening. We looked at each other for a second... then I told her we have mix feelings about the whole thing. (Which is true) I didnt elaborate and I feel that she wanted more details.

How would you feel if that little scenario happened to you? I kinda feel bad thinking back on it. Maybe I made the wrong decision. Maybe that was the time to give details about how we felt. Im not sure. I dont even know if keeping something like that vague bothers her. What are your thoughts?

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Do I get to give an opinion since I'm Irish or do you prefer American only?

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Hope you were keeping six feet away from your coworkers.

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CreepySmile posted...

Do I get to give an opinion since I'm Irish or do you prefer American only?

Sure

SaltyWet posted...

Hope you were keeping six feet away from your coworkers.

I work at a hospital so most of the time we keep 6 feet with masks on. Ill admit that we were closer than 6 feet when talking quietly about that.

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I'd probably ask her to go first since she's so curious and I don't want her to just parrot or agree with me to get social brownie points.
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I think it's problematic that people don't feel like they can safely speak their minds about this issue.

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WaterLink posted...

I'd probably ask her to go first since she's so curious and I don't want her to just parrot or agree with me to get social brownie points.

Didnt even consider that response tbh

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id be fine with that, being a bit reserved is understandable. i wouldnt push for an details to begin with tho...

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I think the problem is that a lot of white people (maybe other races too?) think that black people are a hivemind in these issues. So that's why she feels like asking you. Maybe you're the black person she feels most comfortable with.

I don't really see the point in asking what a black person feels on black events to get the overview. I'll ask their opinion and if I want a great understanding of how black people might feel I'll ask but like, this isn't even a straight forward event. Most people are against the police brutality but rioting/looting/protesting. It's a complex issue and you have every right not to share anything you don't want to. And I understand why you might not want to.

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Don't worry about it she'll probably forget it anyway


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Your response sounds fine to me, you aren't obligated to express the extent of your opinion with anyone else especially if you feel a bit uncomfortable with it. If she seems genuinely curious, there's probably a chance for some education there, but it's completely up to you if you want to engage that.

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known2FAIL posted...

WaterLink posted...

I'd probably ask her to go first since she's so curious and I don't want her to just parrot or agree with me to get social brownie points.

Didnt even consider that response tbh

It also just kind of depends how close you are to her. A certain degree of familiarity and it's cool to talk about things openly but if she's someone who you don't talk to often and she just randomly pops into a conversation with me and a friend then I'm kinda suspecting her motives. But then again, that's just how I am, I have trust issues and I'm kinda cynical and not everyone shares my personality type, not trying to act like the way I'd go about it is the "right way"

Odds are her heart is in the right place and wants to offer support in the way she knows how. Telling her how you feel from the heart probably wouldn't hurt anything and you may give her some perspective she hadn't considered. There's no real right or wrong answer here, you did what you thought was the best way at the time and life is full of "I should have done this" moments.

Sorry I'm rambling a bit here.
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I appreciate all the responses. I feel less like an ass now lol.

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