[David Ward]

I continually seem to be learning new phrases that are considered racist. One that is not particularly new, but one that I find odd, is ‘you people.’ Used in the same context as folks, I don’t see how it can in the least be considered racist. The only way I can imagine it being racist is if it immediately precedes a racist slur. A friend whom I know to be the furthest thing from a racist was recently fired for saying something I considered to be completely innocuous. An African-American man with whom he worked showed up one day dressed in a suit and tie. This workplace was always casual, and my friend asked in a joking manner, ‘Where was he going to preach?’ This is a phrase I’ve heard all my life when someone shows up in a suit. The man immediately became tremendously offended, and rather than go through the hassle of a hearing, my friend found another job. As someone who admittedly grew up not knowing very many African Americans, I’d really like to be able to find a mindset that would enable me to understand why certain phrases are so inflammatory.

User Detail :  

Name : David Ward, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 46, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,