You Don’t Trust my Chocolate Face!
July 21, 2009 7 Comments
I was stopped dead in my tracks when I came across a headline in yesterday’s Metro News, “Are White workers Preferred?” The free publication that for the most part is a waste of time and I will only read it while taking informal breaks out in my company’s warehouse facility away from the suffocating office air people. I prefer to read my news online or read a newspaper that is suited to my intellectual prowess; Metro dumbs it down and bores me. But I was interested to know, or reaffirm if you will what I had known my whole life, so I read on. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia professor Karl Aquino found that North American customers are more likely to be satisfied with their level of service if it were to come from a white male as opposed to a woman or minority.
The study’s research was conducted at a medical clinic, bookstore and at golf courses throughout the U.S. Professor Karl Aquino noted that with the study done at the medical clinic, “ white male doctors who exhibited certain behaviours were considered attentive or conscientious while someone who didn’t fit the prototype of a doctor was considered overbearing and annoying.” Furthermore, “not just that female and minority physicians were rated less favourably for providing similar service, but the harder they tried, the lower they scored.”
Wow, what a bleak outlook our future doctors! Can I get an extra helping of “I told you so!” to serve out to all my colour-blind-racial-utopia-hopefuls who are convinced that race should never be an issue and that if we just sweep these little instances under the rug that racism will magically disappear and one day we will all hold hands and sing kumbaya for hours on end.
So it is confirmed, the general public prefers to be serviced by “the man”, than by someone of equal qualification who looks different? I could rant and rave on this topic all day but, this issue is not just with the general public even our own people would rather surround themselves with things that do not remind them of their own. Yes! I said it! How many of you have had the conversation below with a loved one or friend:
Ignoramus: “Girl, I am thinking of moving”
Tee: “Oh where to?”
Ignoramus: “Somewhere where there are no black people”
Tee: [nervous laugh] “last time I checked I was talking with a black person, but why you say that?”
Ignoramus: [chuckles heartily] “I know I’m black, but doesn’t mean I have to live around black people, they are too much trouble, and besides the white areas are cleaner, safer and well kept anyways”
Tee: “ Interesting” [blank stare]
And its not just preference in neighbourhoods, its also the stores we shop at, the restaurants we eat at and hell even the parties we choose to attend. So although the research may be shocking and subject to our angry opinions, we do this to ourselves!
AGAIN!!!!!
We do this to ourselves!
I don’t go out of my way to shop at black owned businesses but when the opportunity presents itself I do. But if you look in your own neighbourhood (or maybe just the “hood”), it is not a black person you see running the operation it’s an Arab, Asian, and maybe a Jew. Many people will argue that the service from a black-owned business is not up to par with the other races. The common complaints are that the service is slow, key items are not always in stock and the goods are overpriced. But think, if you forego the obstacles preventing you from supporting your own, don’t you think there will be more leeway to cut prices and keep key items in stock?
Common sense, but swaying an already conditioned and weak mind frame in additon to an empty wallet is the challenge.
Let’s focus on the solution instead of the problem…any ideas or thoughts on black-owned business, professionals, customer service and or neighbourhoods? Do you think twice about whom you are soliciting goods and services from? Any thoughts on Professor Karl Aquino’s study?
Note: I could not locate the article online for some strange reason. I’ll try the Toronto Metro site again and post the link to the article if I come across anything.
I KNOW BLACK PEOPLE [Dave Chappelle reference],
Tee’d Off
Society
You’ll have to excuse the folks who weren’t around when God gave the rest of us common fuckin’ sense. My nieces and nephews who ain’t even damn 10 years old yet coulda told you all this. But It seems as though some people REALLY do believe that this racism shit is imaginary and that it’s easy to fix if it AIN’T. Hell, some folks think it disappeared when Obama won the election.
hey Wizzy Jr….you’re right! There are many jaded individuals who have bought into the fairytale that somehow with a black president in office the color boundaries would be broken..try again!
..thank u for your comment
Just within this summer alone I’ve heard enough accounts of racism to have me seriously consider blowing my head off…and I lost it with the Gates inccident cursing at my monitor while reading the story lol….and the people who can institute the change are the ones who are sweeping it under the rug such as the presidente…so while we have a long way to go most of the ground work can be done within our communities..just sayin
Oh, Not a problem on the comment. HEHE.
And I live in Philly..where those kids got kicked out of the pool because them folks was afraid they’d “Change the complexion”. So, I know FA SHO that racism is alive and well.
As you said yourself, this study doesn’t say anything that we haven’t already known. In fact, I have lived it, being in retail and public service my entire professional life! However, when it comes to erasing the attitude, there is no better way to start than promoting black business and teaching successful black professionals that giving and helping out in the community is not something they should do, it is the only thing to do! Yes, it’s true that sometimes black-owned businesses can’t provide as efficient as a business as it’s Jewish, Arab, or Asian counter-parts. Keep in mind that they also don’t have the resources. Many of these businesses make enough money that the whole family works the business and they all get paid. When was the last time you could ask a black family member to help you out for 90 days for free, just to help you get started? Lost in Barack Obama’s message for election was Change does not come easy! You must struggle before change can happen. Most of the successful businesses and business people struggled before being successful. Success is a journey, not a lottery ticket cashed in! The Beyonce’s, P-Diddy’s, and Jay-Z’s can make a tremendous impact with their money in the Black Community! But guess what, their white accountants won’t ever recommend it! That’s part of the problem!
Hey Chris!
Thank you so much for visiting
two things:
#1- “When was the last time you could ask a black family member to help you out for 90 days for free, just to help you get started?”
Thats the main difference btw the black community and other ethnic groups- the lack of community. we’ve been conditioned with the crabs in a barrell mentality that we hold ourselves back
#2-”The Beyonce’s, P-Diddy’s, and Jay-Z’s can make a tremendous impact with their money in the Black Community! But guess what, their white accountants won’t ever recommend it!”
Interesting you say that..most of these celebs will throw pennies at their fav charity or cause..make an appearance meanwhile all their time, effort & $$ is being put into the new liquor, fragrance or clothing line that most of their fans bust they asses and go into debt to get.
Its nonsense but the first step is to get the diologue flowing and collaborate.
You have given me even more hope, thank you for your comment
Funny yopu post this. I was having a chat just today with Mrs. RiPPa after her most recent Dr’s appointment. She was upset because of the type of service she received at the office which is predominantly Black. This was her first time at this office and she was ticked off.
I don’t go out of my way to consciously support Black businesses. Because here in Memphis, for the most part, they’re Black owned. I have to be honest though: I have been complaining about the quality of service at these establishments for quite some time. And yes my complaint is often that in these establishments there is an obvious lack of people skills.
I’m sorry, but it’s a pet peeve of mine…
I cannot stand uncouth muthaf*ckas.
I’m sorry Mrs. Rippa had a bad experience at the Dr’s office of all places!!
I think another aspect that i did not discuss is that often some of the most talented professional choose to practice in white wealthier nieghborhoods leaving the less skilled and often unorganized professionals to almost monopolize the business in black communities and often times you have put up with the bad service just cause you dont want to seem like a traitor/sell out etc. or because thats the closest location…but black or not no one who is soliciting goods and services should be treated like shit. I hope Mrs. Rippa gave them a piece of her mind!!!!!!! Thank you for visting me Rippa