Everyone's a little bit racist...

[DubaiSis]

Assuming that someone not your same skin color can't possibly understand you speaking your native tongue might be racist. Acknowledging that you're not stupid is not.

And I'm not a chatter in those kinds of situations, but I do try to say thank you. It's part of my Club Med training - we were always to try to say hello, good morning, good evening, good bye, that kind of stuff in the people's native tongue. At one point I could say hello in maybe 15 languages. And jump, but that's another story. Besides, jump in more languages than logic would dictate is Hopa!

Changing subject a bit, after all the "I am not a costume" discussions I have become more sensitive to that. And then I was invited to a 30th birthday party where she wants everyone in Mariachi outfits. She's Mexican-American from El Paso. And she clearly sees it as a dress up/costume kind of a gig. Is this one of those "only if it's your own people" things? And by the way, hell to the no am I dressing up as a mariachi. MAYBE I'll wear the hat. And maybe a hot dress to make up for the fact that I am wearing no brocade anywhere.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Assuming that someone not your same skin color can't possibly understand you speaking your native tongue might be racist. Acknowledging that you're not stupid is not.

This makes me feel better. Thanks! I was having an identity crisis 10 years after the fact because of the OP!

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Changing subject a bit, after all the "I am not a costume" discussions I have become more sensitive to that. And then I was invited to a 30th birthday party where she wants everyone in Mariachi outfits. She's Mexican-American from El Paso. And she clearly sees it as a dress up/costume kind of a gig. Is this one of those "only if it's your own people" things? And by the way, hell to the no am I dressing up as a mariachi. MAYBE I'll wear the hat. And maybe a hot dress to make up for the fact that I am wearing no brocade anywhere.

This cracks me up...I'm not sure what I would do!!

[33girl]

First off, LMAO at #1 because many moons ago, my mom and I were watching the tonight show and Johnny Gill (I think, if not him someone New Jack Swing-y) and apropos of nothing she says "don't black men look good in purple!" So apparently there is a precedent. Yes, that is potentially racist, but also just plain stupid as not all people of a certain race are the same shade and/or have the same undertones.

#2, if two cashiers are conversing with each other when they're supposed to be waiting on me and haven't addressed me directly, I wouldn't say thank you or gracias. I'd say very sarcastically "sorry to interrupt your social hour."

[amIblue?]

Isn't the clothing color and skin color more of an undertone of skin kind of thing, as in cool coloring vs. warm coloring. I've known fair people with blue undertones in their skin and people who are as equally fair but with yellow undertones to their skin. (My best friend and I come to mind. Both pale as the dead, but I'm cool and she's warm. We do not look good in the same colors.) I think the cool/warm thing goes tracks along skin colors from fair to dark. While I don't think there's anything wrong with someone asserting that a color isn't good for an individual, people who claim that only people of a certain race can carry off X color are just dumb asses.