My coworker is a racist, what should I do?

Question

She ALWAYS talks about people's ethnicity and race, not in a negative way but she always points it out. To me, that's racist. And she always ends the conversation with "I'm not saying anything bad about that race, I'm really not"

It's really starting to get annoying. What should I do or say to her?

Answer 1

Tell your boss... He should take care of it from there.

Answer 2

I´m a little irritated by the fact that you say, she´s not saying anything negative. As somebody rightly pointed out, we are all different and noticing that or even saying that out loud doesn´t come over as offensive to me. I´ve never heard black guys complain about the common stereotype of them having big you-know-whats. ;) Maybe if you gave us an example of what she says so we can place it, that would help here.

RE her added phrase "I´m not saying anything bad...", that might be because people have become quite aware of racist tendencies. If she really doesn´t think in a racist way, but simple states something she noticed she might feel the need to add that phrase in order to point out she really doesn´t mean it in a bad way.

Again, an example would really help. :)

Answer 3

When U say that she doesn't talk about etnicity and race in a negative way but your opinion is that she's racist, I'm wonderin" where U are comin' from Julie!

Answer 4

i dont think its racist if what is being said isnt negative or hateful or disrespectful. i have noticed that alot of times african americans always point out race, like this white dude blah blah blah, this latino guy blah blah blah.  they also use the "N" word but wont allow any other race to use it. if the N word is a racist statement, then no one should be allowed to use it. when im asked what race i am i just reply im of the human race.

Answer 5

Well, maybe she purely doesn't think of it as racist. If it really bugs you then say something quietly to her about it, or get someone else to tell her it upsets you.

The bit about "I'm not saying anything bad about that race" we had a girl at our primary school who'd say "No offence or anything but..." and then would insult you or another person in a really offensive way. After a while me and my friends just laughed when she said it because it was so ridiculous.

Answer 6

avoid her or tell her you don't want to talk about or say it is not work related convo. and change the subject.

Answer 7

You should say..."Don't you have anything else to talk about?"

Answer 8

Avoid her if you don't like what she has to say.  If you can't avoid her, then say that you don't have any opinion on the topic of conversation and walk away.

Answer 9

Get over yourself. That's what you really need to do. What's your ethnicity? Betcha it's not White.

I have a friend and she told me that her husband noted on Halloween that most of the kids that came trick or treating were Hispanic. She is White (so is he) and apparently she felt this was an improper thing to observe or comment on. I told her that I understood how he felt; he was simply noticing that their area was being overcome that day with that particular group (of whose ethnicity I share, by the way). I live in the same town as they do, but their little corner is basically full of Whites (the last bastion), while mine is full of Hispanics (and now Blacks). To deny noticing various things in life is to walk around with blinders on.

Answer 10

I assume that you and your co-worker are non-minority.  I am tired of "white" people assuming that because I look like them I'm racist like them too.  Let her know that you don't find her observations enlightening in anyway, but in fact a little strange, why is this so important to her to observe all the time? Ask her.

Let her know that you prefer that people be judged by their character, not the color of their skin and that you think to do otherwise interferes with one's ability to treat people fairly.

If you confront her "observations" head on instead of just burying your head on the sand, she'll hopefully begin to see that not everyone that looks like her thinks like her -- or that looks another way thinks in another way.

End the conversation by telling her that you'd like her to please keep her observations to herself as you don't want anyone over hearing her talking to you like that and getting offended by it.

I'd do this every time she brings the subject up.  If she is hard headed at least she'll learn to keep her mouth shut around you or she'll get a lecture.

Its up to all of us to stop racism and those of us who are non-minorities have a responsibility to open our mouths and speak out against it amongst our peers.   When we are silent we condone the talk, then the thinking and finally the actions that follow.  To stop it at its core, we need to challenge the beliefs of those who assume that because we all look the same we all think the same.

Answer 11

Tell her straight up that you don't consider the subject appropriate for the workplace and that you are not at all interested in hearing her opinions on a subject which holds no interest for you.  If she doesn't get the idea and persists, inform your supervisor you feel she is creating a disturbance.

Answer 12

most racist people are in fact racial minorities.

They notice race more than anyone else.  And they hate other races more than anyone else.