I work in a chud-filled workplace in a chud-filled state, with a lot of the bullshit that goes along with it. Today, though, a coworker said something particularly bad like it was no big deal, calling a poorly tied down load on a trailer jury-rigged... except she replaced the jury with a hard-r N word. I thought I misheard her until she repeated it. Call me a lib, but I had no idea how to respond and still don't. Previously I thought she might be alright in this respect since she's really proud of being part native, taking part in some of the traditions of her native side of the family; obviously this doesn't preclude racism against black folks, but still.
Anyway, I don't trust my chud bosses to take it seriously and I don't feel like the coworker in question would listen to whatever I have to say since I'm a white guy in a state with a small black population (we do not have any black coworkers).
I'd appreciate any advice from people on here on how to not be a lib about the situation.
Edit: I should add that I would like to quit and leave the company with one less worker, but I need the money right now until I can find something else.
Thank you all for the advice, looks like I'll just need to find some backbone. This job isn't more important than anti-racism, after all.
I would probably say like "hey, what the hell? what do you mean by that?" and try to make her feel uncomfortable for saying it. i know situations can be hard to judge though
This only works if they can be made to feel embarrassment which only works if they're on the opposite side of at least 5 people they respect. They only change their tone when they feel completely ostracized in a social environment they view as their own. If you're just one person talking them down about words they use casually, they'll write you off as a hysterical idiot unless they really really respect you or they're afraid of you.
This is at least how it's gone when I've tried organizing racists in my own chud state.
She won't be uncomfortable because everyone around her is on her side, not OP's. Best case scenario in a workplace like this imo is just to laugh and move on, mock them later.
Ok let’s go full benefit of the doubt here.
My understanding is that is one particularly archaic way of saying the phrase.
I could see someone, in theory, using it if their family did and they’d never heard another term.
Next time she says it, gently say that’s not really a thing people say anymore. You could play it off like a joke, “the early 1900s called they want their word back”. The goal isn’t to accuse of racism but to let her know it’s a faux pas.
If she still gets indignent and super defensive (or even proud), that’s a bad sign and you’re dealing with something else.
Bad in the sense that it reflects the state of racism in modern society. It's hardly your fault though.
Source: me too.
I have never heard that version of the phrase before. Sorry you had to deal with growing up around it.
Tell her to watch her mouth. She'll try to play it off, and honestly probably might not think much of it, but just don't break your composure, say it's fucked up to say shit like that, and leave it there. Probably won't say it again.
When a situation is extremely unfair and gives an advantage to one person/group over others I'm gonna call it mayo-rigged
I'm going to give you a very "libby" answer.
Next time it happens, just try to mention that phrase is "not okay" and see what happens from there.
If you've got a decent relationship with that person, sometime soon when its just the two of you, do the awkward thing of bringing it up and telling them how you feel about the use of that word. Then see what happens from there. Maybe they'll be fine, take your criticism to heart and not use the word again (or at least not around you.) Maybe they'll be shitty and you'll see them go "mask off." Do what you want from there.
Previously I thought she might be alright in this respect since she’s really proud of being part native, taking part in some of the traditions of her native side of the family;
Yeah, I've been there too. Knew a part native guy who said that the reason white settlers enslaved black people but not Native Americans was because black people had less racial will
If you don't have a recording of the event, then you're simply not going to get anywhere at all in terms of real disciplinary action.
Only you can judge if trying to have an earnest discussion with this individual will be productive. But that's your only real option here. (Edit: oh you already said that's out. Welp.)
Start calling her "bootlicker wh***" and if she gets mad say that she is a snowflake who needs to calm down
I guess I have two different advices. If you are being a victim of rascism then look up your state labor board and look up lawyers.
If you simply don't like the toxic attitude, as is just, gentle ribbing is probably the best. Can't get in trouble for it. Gets under their defence and might actually change something. They are primed to deal with indignation. However most of them probably don't have any real though or emotion behind it. She used that term for a half assed fix, because that is what everyone around her has always said. She is as big a victim of ideology as anyone else in that way you know? So, I am not clever enough to think of a responce on the fly. The best I got is , "careful with that kinda language, I heard the boss was cheatin' on his wife with a black woman" just press all the buttons at once. Obviously this kind of thing requires careful care and planning. However, why pass up the change to cause chaos at a job you dont like?
