[Lucy22412]

Maybe the particular people you work with are just rude. Their snide remarks and jokes probably had more to do with the class of people you work with than their race. I’ve seen the type of behavior you describe in people of many different ethnic backgrounds. In those cases it was a sign of imaturity and just plain bad manners on their part.

User Detail :  

Name : Lucy22412, Gender : F, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 26, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[TG27573]

They are saying things because they are jealous. Please don’t think all white people are like them. Congrats on your job, keep up the good work, and don’t let those jealous idiots get to you.

User Detail :  

Name : TG27573, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 31, City : White Plains, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Mark Buchanan]

I think it is because we as non-European Americans have proven to overcome some odds that European American people to this day do not understand. Legislation did not get us where we are today. It was hard work.

User Detail :  

Name : Mark Buchanan, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 36, City : Cali, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Government, Education level : Technical School, 

[Connie M.]

When I’m at work, I often find that white people will bad-mouth someone right in their presence, and actually think the person can’t pick up on it. Do they think they’re talking in code? For example, I got an Employee of the Month award after being at my workplace only eight months. The people there were making all types of jokes and were very transparent when they congratulated me; they were making snide remarks and eye contact with each other like I wasn’t there. To me it seems that white people think black people are too stupid to pick up on it. I am very quiet and do my work, and always as best as I can. I am a stickler for quality, but I find that when I do my job well, I get put down for it.

User Detail :  

Name : Connie M., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 35, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : Telecommunication, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[tara-b]

Altho your co-workers may be just a bunch of worthless white yahoos, my guess is that this situation has nothing to do with race or racism. I think your hard work just makes them feel like the bunch of slackers that they are and they want to make you feel bad in turn. They knew you would see, hear, and understand and they meant to knock you down a peg. If it’s any consolation, I bet they would have treated a quiet, hard-working white person to the same type of put-downs. I think the only thing you can do is avoid any appearance of a holier than thou or judgemental attitude (until you become their boss), and try to be a little more friendly and outgoing in the hope that you will eventually find a friend/supporter among them.

User Detail :  

Name : tara-b, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 42, City : atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jennifer R.]

I’m sure there are instances of this type of interaction happening between people of all ethnicities, but if these people are doing it, it could be that they *know* you can understand, and *do* mean to offend, but want to phrase it in a way that you’ll feel the sting without having much evidence that they can’t deny about their motivations. Keep an eye on this. If it gets more explicit, you may have grounds for reporting the offenders to a superior for harrassment. ________________________________________________

User Detail :  

Name : Jennifer R., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Humanist, Age : 29, City : Saint Paul, State : MN, Country : United States, Occupation : Writer/Student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Julia27013]

You may just be working with a bunch of jerks. I’m white and have been on the receiving end of such false praise by jealous co-workers (also white). I’m just sorry that you have to work under such ugly circumstances. I don’t know if there is such a thing as code language for white people – if there is, I’ve never heard it. People in tight groups often can know what another is really thinking by the way a comment is made or a look or a wink or something – but that goes for all races. What you describe actually sounds more like a clique – you know, like snobby little high-school girls. Maybe your co-workers just never grew up.

User Detail :  

Name : Julia27013, Gender : F, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, 

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